Stress and burnout in the technology sector have become major issues, with workers across a raft of professions reporting higher workloads, longer hours, and rising mental health problems.

One company wants to change that, however, and incentivize staff to prioritize their mental wellbeing. London-based technology firm Thrive has unveiled the launch of its ‘Wellness Era’ initiative, which aims to reward employees for “investing time in themselves and building new healthy habits”.

The initiative includes a range of programs and employee benefits designed specifically to improve physical and mental wellbeing. The scheme includes a partnership with wearable tech company, Whoop, to let employees track activities, sleep, stress, and strain.

This isn’t the first time wearable tech has been used to tackle work-related burnout and stress. Indeed, analysis from JetBrains in 2024 found nearly half (47%) of developers have begun using self-monitoring apps and devices to track physical activities, sleep quality, and general health.

At Thrive, the company said the program will highlight when individuals encounter specific issues, such as sleep difficulties, and offer targeted support including spa vouchers or 'wellbeing kits'.

While participation in the program is voluntary, the company is keen to encourage employees to get involved, and they could even win cash prizes of up to £500 as a reward.

"We're not afraid to try new things," said Cassie Gasson, Thrive’s Co-CEO. "At Thrive, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and their wellbeing is directly linked to our success. We also understand that true wellbeing is a continuous journey, not a fleeting trend.”

Gasson added that the initiative is “just the latest experiment” in the company’s attempts to create a more productive workplace. The company has previously implemented changes to working practices to improve wellbeing, such as a ban on meetings.

Similarly, its four-day week trial, which was the first medical trial of its kind in the UK, delivered positive results with regard to improved physical and mental wellbeing, as well as improvements to workforce productivity.

How Thrive’s wellbeing initiative will work

As part of the ‘Wellness Era’ initiative, employee challenges will align with themes like ‘Healthy Eating Week’ and Stress Awareness Month. Internal awareness campaigns will encourage participating employees to get involved.

12 monthly challenges will also be launched, including a ‘snooze for success’ campaign which aims to reward employees for getting a good night’s sleep, the company revealed.

‘Move more Monday’ will also encourage employees to complete a 45-minute activity to start the week with exercise, be that light or strenuous.

Staff who opted-out of using the Whoop wearables will still have options, the company noted. Employees can expense team sports activities or claim back expenses for services like massage therapy.

The company said it anticipates a “significant” return on investment from the scheme, including increased productivity, enhanced goal attainment, and a more balanced work-life experience for employees.

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Smart glasses are one of those technologies that just refuses to die. Companies like Microsoft and Google have had a crack at it, with varying degrees of success, and here we are in 2022, with high-tech eyewear still not quite in the mainstream.

The history of virtual reality goes all the way back to the late 50s, though the term was actually coined in 1987 by author and technologist Jaron Lanier. Along with AR (augmented reality), VR has primarily centred around gaming and immersive experiences, but there is a feeling that we’re entering a new age of VR thanks to the sudden emergence of the so-called ‘metaverse’. Meta (née Facebook) is leading the charge here, though I have to say what Meta presents as the ‘metaverse’ looks an awful lot like characters and backgrounds from Wii sports.

However, if we leave the low-quality avatars and cartoon landscape to one side, there are other use cases for smart glasses that can benefit businesses and remote workers. One example was presented by Lenovo with the announcement of its new T1 smartglasses, which were revealed at IFA in Berlin. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to have a full hands-on session with the T1 glasses; instead, I got about three minutes with them at the Showstoppers consumer trade event, where Lenovo had a presentation table.

With the device in hand, my immediate impression was that they looked a little stupid and, to be fair, most smart eyewear prototypes are unattractive. Part of the reason, for me, is that they’re an ugly mix of sunglasses and VR headsets. The T1s themselves aren’t as large as the latter, but they’re a little bit like bulky Ray Bans. Nowhere near as svelte as Meta’s ‘Ray Ban Stories’.

The T1 works with a smartphone or a laptop and according to Lenovo, this will include MacBooks. The two prototypes the company had on display were hooked up to an Android handset via a USB cable. Presumably, they will eventually be wireless, but the display of the smartphone screen is transported to the glasses with the cable. The phone's display then switches to a trackpad so you can move a cursor around a screen that you can see through the glasses, essentially making the phone a mouse.

I played around with it for a few minutes and asked various questions - and you know what? It was just straight-up cool. Cool in a way that I could actually see the use cases or the reason for it, not like foldable phones, which still seem like an answer to a question no one asked. This felt like a future technology that had reached the now. I had the graphics of a smartphone in my eyes, a virtual desktop that only I could see. I felt like flipping Iron Man.

Said desktop moved with my head, but there was also a button on the arm of the glasses that I could click to keep the content in a single place. What’s more, it doesn’t block your peripheral vision and you can still see the real world beyond the graphics. Now, I can’t say how good this is for working on documents or typing, but for controlling a smartphone UI and watching a quick video, it was great. How this will operate with a laptop screen is still a mystery, but I like the idea of having a screen that literally no one but me can see. It’s complete privacy in that regard, which will make your sensitive work that little bit safer when in public. Lenovo told me that it’s predominantly going to be aimed at the consumer, with a release date estimated at early 2024 and a price tag that will be under £400.

However, while I was clearly sold on the idea of a desktop for my eyes only, I still recognise that this in itself may come with issues. For starters, it’s an immersive technology and that might not be a good fit for work, particularly as more and more of us are apparently doing an increasing amount of our work remotely. The idea that you can do your job in a virtual space and essentially ignore the outside world seems like a fast track to burnout and isolation. For now, though, I’m content with the idea of a virtual interface that only I can see. I just wished they didn’t make me look like actual glasses.

Microsoft’s new patented feature focuses on employee health and well-being and suggests a break when workers become stressed.

In its patent titled “Emotion Detection From Contextual Signals For Surfacing Wellness Insights,” the tech giant describes a “wellness insights service” that amasses biometric data from a range of wearable devices, including fitness trackers, digital assistants, and smartwatches.

Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring data obtained from wearables helps detect an employee’s stress levels during work tasks, like drafting and reviewing an email, attending meetings, and more.

If the system determines the anxiety level associated with a task is above a specific threshold, the wellness insight service may trigger a wellness insight related to the work event.

For example, if the service receives information from an email application indicating a user spent more time reading an email from a manager than a predefined threshold, the user's blood pressure and heart rate for that particular time will be evaluated.

The wellness insight solution may “additionally or alternatively include recommendations for increasing a user's wellbeing when experiencing stressful work events.”

For instance, if taking a long time to read an email is an anxiety cue, a wellness insight could be “Consider taking a break and coming back to it later." What’s more, insights can surface at set times and days.

Additionally, the service may include natural language processing models to categorize language inputs into angry, happy, and indifferent tones.

“It has become common for enterprises to make substantial investments in their employees' health and wellbeing,” said Subramanian Ramakrishnan, principal group engineering manager at Microsoft.

“Enterprises understand that such investments are worthwhile because they are better able to retain talent. Additionally, the work product from healthy and happy employees is generally better. In an enterprise workplace, emails are a primary mode of communication, and a great deal of employee time is spent interacting with email clients. Email-related anxiety is a pressing problem that impacts employee productivity and health,” Ramakrishnan added.

What if your clothing was intelligent? Perhaps your shirt could monitor your vital signs and report any issues directly to your doctor. The face masks that have now become part of everyday life could change colour or make a sound if they come into contact with COVID-19 virus molecules. It all sounds like science fiction, but many of the fundamental technologies that could make these scenarios a reality are all in active development.

Embedding electronics into fabrics has crossed many different sectors: Couture over the last decade has dabbled with electronics using LED lighting to give the catwalk a tech feel. Fashion designers, including Alexander McQueen, ruminated on the impending digital Armageddon thanks to the Y2K threat with his flashing LED clothing in 2000. More recent examples include a gaze activated dress that reacts when someone looks at the wearer designed by Ying Gao, and a denim jacket from Pauline van Dongen’s that can give you a massage, as well as all of ‘Biomedia designer’ and founder of SENSOREE Kristin Neidlinger designs, which offer therapeutic, bio-responsive fashion.

Making the clothes we wear on a more day-to-day basis intelligent, though, presents many challenges. Professor Steve Beeby, who leads the Smart Electronic Materials and Systems (SEMS) group in the Department of Electronics and Computers Science at the University of Southampton, explains to IT Pro: “The eFabric market, from my perspective, is still characterised by poor levels of integration for the electronics and sensing functionality, and the reliance on traditional battery technology to power the garment. There are some interesting examples of eClothing in the fitness and elite sports sectors. However, they are expensive and still suffer from low levels of integration with the electronics themselves into the garments.”

That’s not to say that eFabrics are a lost cause, though. Dr Kerri Akiwowo, a lecturer in textiles at Loughborough University School of Design and Creative Arts, says an interdisciplinary approach, combining expertise from designers, engineers, technologists and scientists, is the path to commercial viability for these types of materials.

“The merging of different technologies is an exciting prospect,” she says. “Duality in digital processing and integrated smart features in fabrics is attractive and offers huge potential in terms of both design and function.”

New eFabrics

The focus when discussing the development of eFabrics and intelligent textiles is often on the technology being embedded into the fabric. In order to achieve this, though, the manufacturing process will need to change. Anshul Gupta, senior analyst, Gartner explains: “There are eFabrics in development. One of the main challenges is manufacturing them at scale. We have seen a range of eTextile based products from university-based research centres, but they have been unable to convert their R&D into tangible products. The products that have made it to market have been in small volumes.”

Speaking to IT Pro, Connie Huffa, a textile engineer and co-owner of Fabdesigns, which developed the Flyknit shoes for Nike, explains the direct impact of these limitations on people like her.

“In our industry, we have been limited to one or two embedded wires. This is due to the textile machine manufacturers themselves only having the capability of inputting two wires into a flat-knitting machine. Embroidery is limited to one wire at a time. This is why we built our feed device so that we can make many circuits,” she says.

“However, it’s important to note we have a divergence in our industry. Consumer product companies want plug and play components and processes that are already tested and meet specific standards, in order to meet their 3 to 6-month development business models. This is the apparel sector with an apparel development model of rapid prototyping and very different values. Technical firms that make medical, military, hard wearables, and in the aerospace sector, typically have longer term development models of 18 months to 3 years or more, which includes their own testing, validation, stage and gates for product risks, process risks, and launch.”

A fundamental component of all eFabrics is power. Advances have been made to embed sensor technology, for instance, into the weave of a garment, but all these technologies still require power. While this is a complicated issue, it may in fact be one of the easier challenges to overcome.

“When we consider how eFabrics will be powered, the weave structure of most garments is actually a good scaffold for batteries and supercapacitors,” explains Southampton University’s Beeby. “We are developing power technologies, but if you want to create a product, the challenges are how your eFabrics will meet practical use such as washing. The mechanical abrasion of the washing process must be solved to build a tangible product you can market.”

Charging, however, may be even more simple, with Beeby suggesting “you can easily see a scenario where your wardrobe becomes the charging environment for a uniform you might wear or a 'smart' suit you have.”

This was echoed by James Hayward, principal analyst, IDTechEx who comments: “All eTextiles will have some form of box filled with the electronics and the power supply to simplify matters, which has to withstand normal usage, which includes washing.

“There is research to embed the electronics into the weave that a garment is made from, but the reality at the moment is that a box of electronics needs to be attached to the fabric.”

Advances are being made to resolve these issues, though. One such innovation comes from the partnership between Powercast Corporation and Liquid X. Utilising Liquid X's proprietary ink technology, manufacturers can print circuitry directly onto a garment, add Powercast’s wireless power technology and a battery, and seal this all into the garment during the manufacturing process.

Smart garments

Giving the clothes we wear intelligence is the ultimate goal for the eTextiles industry. While fashion and novelty may be one use, there are more practical applications, too, notably in health.

Inroads are already being made in this area, particularly in the consumer market. Hexoskin, for example, has smart garments with built-in ECGs, pulse and heart rate monitoring. Connecting to your smartphone, you can monitor key aspects of your physiology.

IDTechEx’s James Hayward comments: “Physiological monitoring in the medical sector and sports is clearly an area of development. Tracking these sectors from over the last five years, the leading sports brands were very interested in the possibilities that eFabrics could deliver, but have slowed their developments as the major challenges developing these fabrics and clothing presented themselves.”

Connecting smart clothing to an ecosystem that enables real-time data communications is on the horizon. We already have fast wireless data connectivity with the wearable technologies in the marketplace. Smart garments will take advantage of future data ecosystems as they mature thanks to the burgeoning IoT sector.

“Intelligent fabrics are here to stay and will continue to infiltrate infrastructure,” says Loughborough University’s Dr Akiwowo. “The signs are already out there in the form of wearable displays, high-tech medical textiles, functional clothing, sensory materials, energy harvesting fabrics, phase change substrates, and thermal regulation capability, to name a few. As technology advances, so will electronic, digital and smart products. Although fragmented and yet to fully break commercial ground, the sector continues to mature. The next 10 years points to an intriguing landscape for tactile intelligence.”

Equipping the clothes we wear with a level of intelligence and connectivity is some way off a mass market product you can buy from your favourite retailer. Specialist sectors such as elite sports and in some medical environments, smart eFabrics will appear in increasing numbers. For now, eTextiles are a novelty, but eventually they may well become commonplace.

Apple Watch 3 at a glance

• Is available exclusively on EE in the UK
• The device has cellular connectivity, a 70% faster dual-core processor and its only 0.25mm bigger than the Series 2
• watchOS 4 arrived on 19 September

Image credit: Apple

Apple Watch 3: latest news

02/10/2017:Apple Watch 3 owners have reported they're struggling to connect their devices to LTE, but the only way owners can rectify the problem is to call their operator to fix it.

The Apple Watch 3 is only available on EE in the UK and the company said that for customers to turn on the connection, they'll have to phone customer services.

However, it is advising everyone with an Apple Watch 3 that refuses to connect to do the following: "Go to the Apple Watch app on your phone and select 'Mobile Data'. If it says 'Activating' that means it's working and all you need to do is wait for it to complete. It can take up to 2 hours, but may complete quicker."

If this doesn't work though and they're presented with an error message such as, "activation failed," "Error code 019," "Error code 007," or "this account is not ready to use with Apple Watch," they're being requested to give the operator a call to try and get it up and running from their end instead.

Unsurprisingly, EE has been inundated with calls and messages about the fault and with only six people on the company's support team dealing with the issue, it may be those having problems will have to wait some time on hold before they can rectify the issue.

28/09/2017:The Twitter Apple Watch app has disappeared from the device, with Twitter instead choosing to focus on improving the way notifications appear on the Watch from a user's iPhone.

On the iTunes App Store web page, Twitter states it is no longer compatible with the watch, as reported by TechCrunch. Users who have updated to the latest iOS and watchOS have also reported that the Twitter Watch app has disappeared.

The publication reported that the app was removed following an update of Twitter for iOS (version 7.8).Twitter's watch app began crashing earlier in the week, MacRumorsreported,so Twitter may have pulled the app in order to give it an update.

A number of watch apps were removed in the first half of 2017, including those from Amazon, Google Maps and eBay.

IT Pro understands the app has been removed, but that the Watch will instead mirror iPhone Twitter notifications, enabling users to view images and other Twitter content directly on their Watch.

A Twitter spokesperson said: "We heard from people that notifications were the most helpful part of the Apple Watch Twitter experience. With this, we are focusing on supporting more robust, media-rich notifications. We are committed to providing the very best Twitter experience on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch, and we'll continue to iterate and improve our apps across all platforms."

Additionally, the LTE version of the new Apple Watch has problems making phone calls and using cellular data without the presence of an iPhone nearby, it emerged last week.

Apple admitted that the watch can experience connectivity problems when it connects to open Wi-Fi networks. The tech giant hopes to release a fix in a future software update for the problem.

22/09/2017:Apple's new heart rate monitor won't work with original watch model

The next iteration of Apple Watch OS, watchOS 4, will bring a host of new updates to its health and fitness tracking app, however it has emerged that owners of the original watch series are going to miss out.

The new software upgrade will introduce a new resting heart rate monitoring feature, recently demonstrated at Apple's so-called Special Event earlier this month, but according to 9to5Mac, only users with Series 1, Series 2 and the new Series 3 watches will be able to make use of it.

The reason? The original watch series is simply not powerful enough. Newer Apple Watches received much faster chips and larger battery capacities, and even though the original model is only two years old, it's unable to keep pace with demanding capabilities.

Users have confirmed that the workout heart rate monitor is fully functional on the original watch series, however they are unable to track their resting heart rate.

It's yet another blow to the Apple marketing campaign, after it emerged that a bug in the new LTE connected Apple Watch 3 meant it's signature feature, the ability to make calls or connect to WiFi, was faulty.

Users have confirmed that other features available in watchOS 4, such as tracking cooldowns after a workout, are working on the original Apple Watch.

21/09/2017:Apple Watch LTE has problems making phone calls and using cellular data

Apple's new Watch Series 3 has experienced issues when carrying out phone calls and making use of cellular data on the device without the presence of an iPhone nearby.

Apple has admitted the watch can experience connectivity problems when it connects to open wifi networks, as reported by Reuters.

Apple spokesperson Amy Bessette told the publication that the company is trying to find a fix to include in a future software update.

A number of reviewers have experienced this problem when reviewing the new device. Lauren Goode wrote in The Verge that the watch she reviewed failed at the LTE part.

She wrote: "On more than one occasion, I detached myself from the phone, traveled blocks away from my home or office, and watched the Watch struggle to connect to LTE. It would appear to pick up a single bar of some random Wi-Fi signal, and hang on that, rather than switching to LTE."

Apple sent the publication a statement which read: "...when Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular. We are investigating a fix for a future software release."

IT Pro has contacted Apple for more information.

There have also been some problems surrounding the devices battery life. Betty Wong Ortiz found that the watch died just under three hours when going on a 20-mile run.

She wrote in Runners World: "I did have the GPS going inside Apple's Workout app while also using the heart rate monitor and Apple Music playlists downloaded directly to the watch. (Thankfully, I knew enough not to stream songs.) And I Bluetoothed that music directly to my headphones--all of which taxes the battery.

"The fix, according to Apple, is to switch to Power Saving Mode in the Workout app, which turns off the watch's cellular and built-in heart rate sensor during your long run; that should get you about five hours of GPS tracking."

The new device is available from tomorrow and prices start at 329. For the LTE version you will also need a cellular plan with EE who have the device as an exclusive in the UK. Buyers can buy the watch with a plan directly from the network or buy it somewhere else and add a plan to the watch afterwards.

Apple Watch 3 release date

The new device opened for pre-orders from 15 September and was available from 22 September in the US. It has launched in the UK and is available from EE.

Apple Watch Series 3 price

The Apple Watch 3 is priced differently for each model depending on how big your wrist is; it comes in the slightly cheaper 38mm version of the 48 mm version. The starting price for the former is 329 whereas the latter is 359. The price increases more if you go for the cellular version, to either 399 or 429.

Like its predecessors, there are also a number of different styles available for you to choose to suit your taste. You can choose from the space grey aluminium case with grey sport band, silver aluminum case with fog sport band, gold aluminium case with pink sand sport band and space grey aluminium case with black sport band.

If those versions don't interest you, and you don't mind splashing a bit of extra cash, then Apple has also produced two stainless steel case versions. They come in either black or white and are only available with cellular functionality. The price of this option starts at 599 for the 38mm wrist version and 649 for the 42mm version.

Still not interested? Not to worry - Apple has a couple of other styles up its sleeve. There is a stainless steel case with a Milanese loop cellular version for 699/749. The price rises to 749/799 if you want it in black.

If you want a sporty Apple Watch 3 then there's a Nike version too - it follows the same pattern as those above and the prices start at 329/399.

If you're still doubtful about the styles mentioned above, and want to go all-out, then there is a Hermes Apple Watch 3 version which costs between 1,199 and 1,399 depending on which style you choose.

Lastly, there's also white and black ceramic version starting at 1,299.

Apple Watch specs and features

Apple Watch 3 iPhone independent

The Apple Watch Series 2 needed an iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7 or 7 Plus, and iOS 10 or later. This was because much of the"heavy lifting" was done by the phone, which then pushed information to the device.

Now, the Apple Watch Series 3 has cellular connectivity and can operate independently, without needing to be near an iPhone all the time. There is a version of it which is non-cellular and is, obviously, cheaper.

The cellular version means users can go for a run with just the watch and stay connected, leaving their phone behind. It uses the same number as a user's iPhone and you can use maps, receive important phone calls and use third party apps such as WeChat. It has up to 18 hours battery life and you can also use Apple music to stream over 40 million songs from your wrist.

Apple Watch 3 specs

The watch has a new dual core processor which is 70% faster and Siri can talk on it for the first time ever. Apple has made their own custom wireless chip, called the W2, which provides 85% faster wi-fi and is 50% more power efficient. There is also a barometric altimeter to measure what elevation you reach when you are running.

Interestingly, the actual display of the watch is its antenna and Apple integrated an electronic sim into the device, which is a fraction of the size of a nano sim. The case is the same as the Series 2 except the back has been extended by 0.25mm, the same size as two sheets of paper.

It has a capacity of 8GB, a heart rate sensor, an acceloremeter and gyroscope and is also water resistant to 50 metres.

The cellular version is slightly different and has a capacity of 16GB.

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in a 38mm version, weighing 26.7g or 28.7g with cellular, or a 42mm version, weighing 32.3g or 34.9g with cellular.

Apple Watch 3 watchOS 4

Apple has revealed that watchOS 4 will be available from 19 September.

There are new watchOS 4 icons which indicate Apple is preparing the Watch 3 to support a number of workouts. iHelp BRspotted new stick figure icons in the iOS 11 internal files and code. These new movements range from skiing in the snow, playing baseball and even dancing.

Apple Watch 3 Bands

A number of bands are available including in gold, silver and space grey. There is also a sport loop, for those with an active lifestyle, and exclusive colours for the Nike bands. Apple has also added a ceramic watch in grey finish as well as the standard white.

Apple Pay and NFC

Apple Paywill probably remain on the Watch Series 3 as Apple continues encouraging users to take advantage of the service. After all, it removes the need for taking your card, or phone, out of your pocket to pay for items since the watch is ony your wrist.

Apple Watch 3 Apps

There are already thousands of apps available for Apple Watch 2 so hopefully many of them will be available for the Series 3. Take a look at some of them below:

Health and Fitness

Apple Watch has been positioned as a health and fitness companion, as well as a mobile device, with the HealthKit developer platform underpinning it all.

As well as built-in fitness tracking and motivation apps like Workout, Move and Activity, third-party apps like Nike+ Running, Runtastic, Strava, and Lifesum are also available straight away. Apps for more holistic exercise regimes, such as yoga, are available as well.

Travel

Travel companies were very quick to develop apps for Apple Watch, with airline apps such as British Airways and EasyJet allowing the user to track their flight status in real time, as well as informing them of when their gate has opened and providing a weather forecast for their destination.

Expedia and TripAdvisor also have Apple Watch apps. The former lets users check their upcoming travel itineraries, including flights and hotel information, while the latter can provide them of things to do, restaurants to visit and other important tourist information in their surroundings.

Other travel apps include National Rail, Uber, and remote car unlocking for VW and BMW cars.

Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest all developed Apple Watch apps.

The Twitter app notifies users of new tweets or retweets via a tap on the wrist, which they can also read in full on the Apple Watch Screen. Wearers can also use the app to compose tweets via voice and follow trending topics.

Instagram, meanwhile, lets users browse their feeds, like photos, and leave emoji comments, as well as delivering notifications.

Business

There is a significant number of productivity-focused apps available for Apple Watch, including Salesforce and over 20 Salesforce partners, Invoice2go, Wunderlist and OfficeTime.

Apple Watch 3 further news

19/09/2017: EE unveils UK prices for Apple Watch Series 3

Mobile network EE has unveiled the prices customers can buy a Apple Watch Series 3 for and opened pre-orders too.

All Apple watches are priced at 25 for 24 months, which works out at 600 in total, and have unlimited data. The devices also share minutes and texts allowances from a user's phone. If you choose the 42mm version of any watch it will cost you 29.99 extra compared to the 38mm version.

EE currently has the aluminium version in gold, silver and space grey, the Nike+ aluminium version in silver or space grey, and the white stainless steel version.

Customers will need to pay an upfront cost of 129.99 for the stainless steel version of the watch, or 159.99 for the 42mm version, although the upfront cost for the other versions it offers starts at 0.

Users who buy their watch from other sellers can set up a data plan with EE through the Apple Watch Series 3 app. In the app select "Set up Mobile Data" where you will be able to log in with an EE account and select a plan.

On Twitter, EE stated that if a user buys their watch from somewhere else and wants to add a data plan, customers will have six months free unlimited data and it will then be 5 per month for 10GB. Full pricing and tariffs are yet to be confirmed andIT Prohas contacted EE for more information.

If you buy the Apple Watch Series 3 silver aluminium version from EE directly it will cost you the 29.00 upfront fee plus 25 per month for 24 months which altogether is 629.99. This gives you unlimited data too.

If you buy the same version of the device from Apple it will cost you 429.99. You can then add the 10GB/5 a month deal, which for 24 months comes to 120. This, combined with the watch price, will cost 549.99 which is cheaper than what EE are selling it for but will only get you 10GB of data.

EE says that while your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth, it will use the phone's data allowance instead of its own. The network also says the watch will not work with another network and data is UK use only so this function will not be available if you take it abroad.

At launch, the device is an exclusive on EE and the network says you will need an iPhone SE, an iPhone 6 or above on the EE network with either a SIM only or pay monthly plan to use the watch.

The device is set to launch on 22 September, which is this Friday.iOS 11andwatchOS 4both launch today which many Apple fans will be happy about.

15/09/2017: Apple Watch 3 may not support international roaming

The LTE Apple Watch 3 may not have international roaming and users will not be able to change their network when they go abroad.

Reddit user learnjavaaskedApple Support whether the watch would be able to roam outside its home country.

The user wrote: "The watch will not support roaming. At all. For Europeans that means your country only, even after the recent (June) law about European roaming freedom."

"There is no way to use a European watch with e.g. a US-carrier. The hardware might support identical bands (but even then way different than what we are used to from iPhones) but the service rep told me that it is not clear when and if at all it will be possible to change countries. Could be a hardware limit."

Mobile network EE toldIT Prothat Apple has designed the product so it cannot connect to cellular networks when abroad. In order for it to be compliant with EU law EE said it has an EE Smart Watch data plan which is set up as a domestic-only plan. EE added that customers can still use their iPhone in the EU using their UK data allowance.

IT Prohas also contacted Apple for comment.

Reddit user LazyA**edAssasin pointed at the Apple Watch'sdata pagewhich shows that 3 different models are available in different regions of the world. The UK model does not support UMTS and Apple states at the bottom of the page that "roaming is not available outside your provider network coverage area".

This could potentially come into conflict withEU lawwhich forces networks to drop mobile roaming charges earlier this year. The European Commission stated: "If you pay for a monthly package of minutes, SMS and data in your country, any voice call, SMS and data session you make while travelling abroad in the EU will be deducted from that volume as if you were at home, with no extra charges. This means the end of roaming charges as travellers have experienced them so far."

Additionally, this may also be a problem for UK customers who wanted to buy the new watch in the US and save a little money since Apple has set the price of its products at the same price in dollars and pounds.

14/09/2017: Apple Watch 3 battery life plummets on talk time

The cellular-enabled Apple Watch 3 might not be quite as useful as Apple would have us believe.

When Apple made its latest wearable its first big announcement at Tuesday's special event, boasting about its data connectivity that allows it to act as your mobile phone, what CEO Tim Cook et al neglected to tell us was its battery life suffers badly when it's used in this way.

Watch 3's battery life stands at 18 hours after a full night's charge when using it for activities such as checking the time and using apps, Apple says. It lasts up to 10 hours when playing back music when connected to an iPhone via Bluetooth.

But when using the Watch 3 to take a phone call in connection with an iPhone, that 18 hours drastically falls to just three hours of battery life - and drops even further to just over one hour when using LTE to chat.

First spotted by9to5Mac, Apple'sbattery information pageon the Watch 3 spills the beans. The wearable lasts 10 hours for indoor workouts and five hours with outdoor workouts involving GPS. If using both GPS and LTE during a workout, the battery life falls to four hours.

For a watch that is promoting itself on its LTE and GPS capabilities, the actual battery life when using these features is quite low.

20:40:Apple Watch Series 3 UK prices unveiled

The Apple Watch Series 3 prices have been unveiled on the company'swebsite.

It will start at 329, for a wrist size of 38mm, or 359, for a 48mm wrist size.If you want the cellular version then that will set you back 399 or 429.

These styles are available to choose from at these starting prices: Silver aluminium case with fog sport band, gold aluminium case with pink sand sport band, space grey aluminium case with grey sport band, space grey aluminium case with black sport band.

There are also two stainless steel case versions which come in either white or black and are only available as the GPS and cellular version which will start at 599 for the 38mm version and 649 for the 42mm one.

Additionally, there is a stainless steel case with a Milanese loop version for 699/749 and it only comes in the GPS and cellular version too. The black version is priced at 749/799.

The Nike watch styles follow the same pattern and are starting prices are between 329 and 399.

For those who want to splash their cash, there is a Hermes version which costs between 1,199 and 1,399 depending on what style you go for.

Lastly, there is a white and black ceramic versions which start at 1,299.

EE is the only network in the UK which the new Apple Watch is currently available on.

The normal GPS device needs an iPhone 5s or later with iOS 11 installed. The cellular version of the watch needs an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 11 on it too.

The Apple Watch and phone provider must be the same, which means you will need a phone contract with EE for it to work.

19:04:The Watch Series 3 is only available with EE in the UK

EE is offering UK customers to register for the Apple Watch Series 3 on theirwebsiteand will let them know when it is ready to pre-order.

It is an exclusive for the network although it has not said how much the device will cost in the UK. Apple said at its event that prices for the cellular watch would start from $399 and $329 for the non-cellular version.

That's about 300 for the cellular version and 248 for the non-cellular one, as long as EE does not raise the price.

The new watch will be able to work independently of a user's iPhone and has its own SIM which means it can make and receive calls. It shares the same number as the iPhone and has a built-in electronic SIM so user's don't have to worry about buying a separate one from a network.

Its dual-core processor is 70% faster than its predecessor and the device will have up to 18 hours battery life.

18:44:Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 3 at its event in California

The watch will cost $399 for the cellular version and $329 for the non-cellular. It will be available in the UK with EE at launch. Orders begin 15 September and it will be available from 22 September if you want to get your wrists on one of these.

It has cellular built in which means users can go for a run with just the watch and stay connected, leaving their phone behind. It uses the same number as the iPhone and you can use maps, receive important phone calls and use third-party apps such as WeChat. It has up to 18 hours battery life and you can also use Apple music to stream over 40 million songs from your wrist.

The watch has a new dual-core processor which is 70% faster and Siri can talk on it for the first time ever. Apple has made their own custom wireless chip, called the W2, which provides 85% faster wi-fi and is 50% more power efficient. There is also a barometric altimeter to measure what elevation you reach when you are running.Interestingly, the actual display of the watch is its antenna and Apple integrated an electronic sim into the device, which is a fraction of the size of a nano sim. The case is the same as the Series 2 except the back has been extended by 0.25mm, the same size as two sheets of paper.

A number of bands are available including in gold, silver and space grey. There is also a sport loop, for those with an active lifestyle, and exclusive colours for the Nike bands. Apple has also added a ceramic watch in agrey finish as well as the standard white.

18:20:Tim Cook has kicked off the Apple event by talking about the Apple Watch.

"The Apple Watch is now the number one watch in the world" said Cook. It was previously the fourth most popular watch in the world. He also said the Watch grew by 50% last quarter which he called "incredible".

12/09/2017:Apple is reportedly working with Stanford University and telehealth firm American Well to test whether the heart rate sensor built into the Apple Watch is capable of detecting abnormal heart rhythms in patients.

The technology is typically used to track heart rates while exercising, however it's thought it could be refined enough to accurately detect arrhythmias, or heart abnormalities, or patients that are at a high risk of serious diseases, according to aCNBCreport.

Arrhythmias aren't always a sign of a serious problem, however a condition known as atrial fibrillation can mean a patient may be at high risk of blood clots, strokes, and other complications, while showing no external symptoms. The thought is that the Apple Watch could be used as an early screening tool that alerts users to consult a doctor.

"Atrial fibrillation is a common rhythm disorder and knowing someone has it is medically useful because those people might need specific treatments," said Bob Wachter, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, speaking toCNBC.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently suggested the company was looking into heart health apps for the Apple Watch. Speaking in an interview withFortune, he said an early goal for the device was "performing some measurements of your health that people were not measuring, at least continually. Like your heart. Very few people wore heart monitors. We're extremely interested in this area. And yes, it is a business opportunity."

Those involved with the test have requested to remain anonymous as the plans have yet to be made public, according to the report, however they did confirm that a clinical trial is scheduled for the end of the year.

11/09/2017: LTE Apple Watch 3 to use the same phone number as iPhone it's paired with

The Apple Watch Series 3 will share the same phone number as the iPhone linked to it, a massive leak of the iOS 11 golden master (GM) code that took place over the weekend revealed.

The leak shows that the Apple Watch will use LTE cellular networks to make and receive calls and data independently of the iPhone, according to9to5Mac.

Users will be able to add their Watch 3 to their iPhone plan, meaning both devices will share the same number.

The code also appears to suggest that some carriers will offer promotional plans for the LTE Apple Watch, perhaps including free months of service.

The upcoming Apple Watch 3 appears to have a similar form to the Apple Watch Series 2,9to5Macreported,which suggests buyers can use their bands from previous generations.

The GM leak also revealeda number of details, including that Apple plans to release three iPhones, the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. The X will be Apple's flagship previously referred to as the iPhone 8, while the 8 and 8 Plus will be what were being referred to as the 7s and 7s Plus, showing Apple is killing the 's' branding. The leak also reveals that Face ID is definitely set to appear in the iPhone X.

This is potentially the biggest and most revealing leak ever, with an Apple insider reportedly making the code available to two news websites.

28/07/2017:Apple Watch Series 3 could be released at the same time as the iPhone 8

Rumours that Apple could release the next Apple Watch this year have intensified following a report that shows its manufacturer is expected to enjoy strong growth in the second-half of 2017.

Quanta Computer is the main manufacturer of the Apple Watch since its official launch in 2015, as reported byMacRumors. The publication said Apple is meant to be keeping Quanta as its main supplier for the next installment of the watch and this means the company should begin the second half of 2017 strongly.

The website also predicts that, while theiPhone 8is raising a lot of media attention, Apple may launch a new Apple Watch this year - potentially at the same time the new phone is announced in September. Apple pursued this strategy when it announced the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 in the same month.

The new watch is rumoured to have cellular connectivity, meaning that users can make calls and send messages without needing to connect the device to the iPhone. Despite this, it may mean that users will have to have two separate cellular plans: one for their watch and one for their phone.

There have been reports that Apple may not be able to produce enough iPhone 8 devices for its launch in September due to a shortage of OLED panels at assembly plants. This may mean that although the iPhone 8 will potentially make its debut in September, not all customers will be able to buy one, which isn't different to any other iPhone launch.

07/06/2017:Apple watchOS 4 announced at WWDC 2017

Apple showcased the watchOS 4 operating system at WWDC 2017 and highlighted a host of new features including new Siri integrations and fitness features.

New fitness features include personalised updates, monthly challenges and celebrations when you hit a goal. The watch will let you jump into any workout with just a tap, includes a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) mode and lets you track your swims better. To help users get the most out of a workout, the watch will now automatically turn a Do Not Disturb setting when you begin a workout too.

Music has been changed too as the Apple Watch will automatically sync playlists that have been curated for you to the watch. Added Bluetooth functionality means the watch can connect to other health and fitness devices too, potentially even for monitoring glucose levels while exercising.

Developers can currently access the developer preview but the public will have to wait until the autumn to get their hands/wrists on the new update.

Make sure you check out ourApple watchOS 4 hubfor all the details

19/05/2017:Tim Cook spotted sporting Watch with blood sugar tracker

Apple CEO Tim Cook has been spotted with a special version of the Watch on his wrist, which includes a prototype blood sugar tracker. That follows previous reports that Apple was looking to sell a glucose sensor that can connect to the Apple Watch to help those with diabetes.

The first version of the Apple Watch included a heart-rate sensor, but didn't feature GPS or waterproofing, meaning it was less useful for fitness tracking. The Apple Watch 2 included both features, making it handy for runners, swimmers and other athletics. It now looks as though Apple is adding health to the Watch's capabilities.

According to aCNBCreport, Cook was spotted wearing a prototype sensor that connects to the Apple Watch while at the company's headquarters. Cook has previously discussed the idea of a glucose sensor, and said he'd been wearing one, while in Edinburgh giving a talk to university students, but said at the time he removed it before the trip. At the time, he said it was "mentally anguishing to stick yourself many times a day to check your blood sugar," CNBC reported, noting that the Apple glucose tracker will be non-invasive.

He suggested the sensor would be useful to people at risk of diabetes, as they could track their body's response to what they're eating and "adjust well before they become diabetic".

The glucose sensor is thought to be a "smart band" that attaches to the Watch to extend it's capabilities, rather than a feature built into a new version of the wearable.

12/05/2017: Will the next Apple Watch offer sleep tracking?

Apple has acquired Beddit, a Finnish sleep tracking firm, in a move that could signal the technology is coming to Apple Watch.

Sleep tracking technology is common in wearables, particularly when it comes to specialist health and fitness devices. Despite Apple pushing its smartwatch's health credentials, it has never included sleep tracking as an integral part of the device, although it's a commonly requested feature.

Beddit's device, which has been on sale in Apple Stores since 2015, isn't a wearable itself, though. Instead, it consists of a 1.5mm thick strip that users place on top of their mattress and is plugged into a mains socket for power. It can then monitor many aspects of a person's sleep, including their heart rate, time and quality of sleep, and whether the user is snoring. It also includes an intelligent alarm system that wakes users during their lightest phase of sleep.

The question now is whether Apple has acquired the company for its software or its hardware - or both. Indeed, the Beddit app has been one of several that have filled the sleep-tracking gap left by Apple Watch.In order to integrate Beddit's technology into the Apple Watch itself, however, the device would need a significant hardware upgrade currently, the device is unable to track sleep as it requires recharging each night.

02/05/2017:A number of leading tech companies have silently killed off their Apple Watch apps, according to a report byApple Insider.

Google has joined Amazon, Ebay, and US retailer Target by dropping support for its WatchOS Maps app in a recent April update, although no official announcement was made, the publication said. So far the dropped apps include Amazon's shopping service and Google Maps.

Google has stated toApple Insiderthat although it has dropped support for Google Maps, it plans to add it once again in the future.

It is unclear why the companies decided to remove the apps, however, though it may be that the services weren't widely used by Apple Watch owners, rather than necessarily an indication of a struggling platform.

However it could also be a sign that the platform is no longer lucrative. It is no secret that Apple has found it difficult to convince customers of the platform's potential, with estimates fromIDC analystssuggesting as much as a 71.6% drop in sales in the third quarter of 2016.

And Apple isn't alone, with wider sales of smartwatches tanking over the last year. Google is struggling to sell its Android Wear range amid poor customer demand, and development of its latest version was pushed back after third party manufacturers such as Motorola abandoned device production at the end of last year.

The market was also hit with the shock news that Pebble, the company considered a leading exponent of smart watch technology, was being sold off to Fitbit forpractically nothingin December.

Latest news:

25/04/2017: Microsoft is working on a new smartwatch powered by Windows 10, although, unusually, it won't be a direct competitor to the likes of Apple Watch and the Samsung Gear.

Instead the watch is being designed exclusively for business and commercial customers, built on Windows 10 IoT Core OS and able to run to Universal Windows Applications, the company revealed in a blog post.

TrekStor, a leading manufacturer of eBook readers, MP3 players and external hard drives, will produce the wearable, which can use Microsoft Azure Cloud services including Microsoft Cognitive.

Very little information was given about its specifications, but what we do know is that it will be a 1.54in watch that is both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled. It will also come with "plenty of storage space" and "the processing power and battery life to perform its line-of-business functions".

Aside from the marketing fluff, we also know it will feature a soft casing and an anti-scratch screen built with Gorilla Glass 3. It will also house a voice recognition feature to verbally transmit messages, and an instant messenger-style chat system.

The Windows 10 IoT Core is a modified version of Microsoft's flagship OS, specifically designed for use in connected devices. The software allows wearables to access specific IoT hardware, such as lights, sensors and motors, and has access to the Universal Windows Platform API for developers wanting to build new capabilities.

As many current UWP apps are not designed to run on a 1.5in screen, it is likely TrekStor will develop its own range of apps initially, with some optimisation at a later date.

Microsoft believes the smaller device will be able to replace larger handheld tablets, specifically in fields such as inventory management, building automation in hospitality services, and even patient care in hospitals.

Microsoft said it will release more information in the coming months.

21/02/2017: Has Tag Heuer made the industry's first hybrid smartwatch?

Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer may be about to shake up the smartwatch market by releasing a modular timepiece capable of adjusting between a digital and a regular mechanical interface.

It was previously reported that a sequel to the Tag Heuer Connected, the company's first smartwatch, would land sometime in May bringing some minor cosmetic changes.

But according to sources close to the matter speaking to Android Central, a new device featuring dual functionality is expected to launch on 14 March, a week prior to Switzerland's watch trade show Baselworld.

The original Tag Heuer Connected was a surprise hit (credit: Tag Heuer press area)

The website claims that Tag Heuer has perfected a way of creating a "one-of-a-kind" smartwatch allowing the user to "switch between the digital connected Android Wear 2.0 body and a more traditional automatic movement".

The watch, which is likely to be called the 'Connected Modular', will come in two sizes for men and women and include a range of colour options and designs. It is also expected to feature universal lugs, allowing users to connect any strap and clasp that fits the watch.

The company's original 'Connected' smartwatch was a huge success for the company, proving to be popular among its luxury high-end audience with a price of just over 1,000. Originally hoping to sell 20,000 units, over 56,000 were ultimately sold over the course of a year.

As previously reported, the watch will feature Android Wear 2.0, NFC for making contactless payments, and a GPS chip that promises to be more accurate than its predecessor.

15/02/2017: IBM prototype puts hospital care in the home

IBM has developed a prototype device capable of transmitting patient data directly to doctors, collected from a number of wearable devices worn by patients both in hospitals and at home.

The Amazon Echo-style hub, which IBM is calling the 'cognitive hypervisor', is able to extract data from devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands, and send it to the IBM Cloud. The patient data is then analysed and the results are sent over to their relevant doctors.

The hub is designed to sit next to a patient's bed

Using smart devices with built in sensors, the technology is able to collect data about a patient's vitals, including blood pressure and core temperature, and alert doctors if readings begin to fluctuate beyond normal ranges. The designer, Bruno Michel, believes this will allow patients to spend less time in hospital, safe in the knowledge the technology is keeping watch.

"Our goal is a health companion and we call it the cognitive hypervisor," said Michel. "We want to enable patients to leave the hospital sooner, so they can recover from the comfort of their own home, while still receiving care remotely from trained medical staff."

The hub connects to the IBM Cloud where it is able to access Watson APIs, such as speech to text, allowing for further applications of remote care. This is particularly useful for elderly patients at home, as they will be able call for an ambulance, receive reminders to take pills, and ask basic questions like: "Can I take paracetamol with my medication?"

The Hypervisor dashboard, showing data from wearables in real-time

The recognition API is also able to monitor the speech patterns of patients suffering from Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's diseases, alerting doctors of advanced symptoms based on audible changes.

Michel foresees wider applications of the technology, including within the workplace where it may be able to help with the reduction of stress.

"Recovering at home will significantly lower healthcare costs while increasing patient satisfaction - if we are successful the hospital of the future will look very different," said Michel.

IBM is not currently looking to move into the wearables market, but instead plans to open up the platform for other companies to build their own health services.

A first prototype of the technology, a hub named Chiyo, was demoed at an IBM event in San Francisco on Tuesday.

This is the latest in a series of efforts to try and incorporate technology into healthcare, and reduce the costs incurred by growing populations that are living longer.

So far two NHS trusts, Imperial College and the Royal Free Hospital, have partnered with Google's AI arm DeepMind to create a hospital-based app designed to help doctors monitor patients suffering from kidney disease, with the aim of speeding up diagnoses and potentially saving lives.

Wearables at a glance

Technology companies are continually evolving the ways in which connected lightweight devices can improve not only our personal lives, but also productivity at work. For our run down of some of the best wearables for business users, head over to our hub.

Apple is said to be working secretly on developing glucose sensors to help in the treatment of diabetes.

According to reports by CNBC, the project was initially endorsed by Steve Jobs before his death. The project would involve a wearable device, such a smartwatch, that would track and log health data, such as blood glucose, heart rate and oxygen levels. The tech would use non-invasive sensors to monitor the body to detect diabetes in people, allowing timely treatment.

The firm has brought in a small team of biomedical engineers to work in Palo Alto. Any breakthrough made by the team would be a "holy grail" for life sciences, as the such previous attempts have failed. It's difficult to measure glucose levels without taking actual blood.

Apple is said to have undertaken feasibility trails in the Bay Area and consultants have been brought in to help deal with regulatory matters.

According to the reports, the project has been active for at least five years. In 2010, Apple bought a firm called Cor, after then-CEO Bob Messerschmidt reportedly sent Jobs an email on the topic of sensor technologies for healthcare. Messerschmidt has since worked on the Apple Watchm which does feature a heart rate tracker.

Sources familiar with the matter told CNBC the technology will use optical sensors that will work by "shining a light through the skin to measure indications of glucose".

The project is expected to cost Apple several hundred million dollars if not a billion dollars, but any breakthrough would stimulate new medical research and open up a market to people wanting to track blood sugar levels, making the Apple Watch a "must have" rather than a shiny toy.

Google is also working on wearable technology to monitor blood sugar levels, although its technology has focused on a smart contact lenses that monitors glucose levels in tears.

Main image credit: Apple

Wearables featured heavily at this year's CES, and technology companies are continually evolving the ways in which lightweight devices can improve not only our personal lives, but also productivity at work.

We've highlighted some of the best wearable devices for making your hectic workday that much easier.

Smartwatches

There is no denying that the buzz around smartwatches has begun to subside, but to write them off completely would be a mistake. Whether it's for productivity, navigation, organisation, or fitness, watches provide a discrete tool for business users.

Apple Watch 2

Apple remains the biggest name on the smart watch market, and with its latest iteration of the Apple Watch it continues to improve on a solid design. Built in GPS and a wider range of style and size options make the watch an even more attractive option for a companion device.

It also features a host of supported productivity apps, including a remote version of PowerPoint, Evernote, Salesforce, and travel essentials such as App in the Air and Uber. It's also less obnoxious on your wrist, and will only 'light up' when the device registers that your arm is rotating to view the screen.

While battery life remains fairly mediocre, lasting up to 18 hours between charges, this is certainly enough to survive a working day.

Apple Watch 2 specs:

Samsung Gear S3

Changing consumer tastes in the smartwatch market are being reflected in a recent move away from devices that look alien on the wrist, toward a design that's more akin to a traditional timepiece.

The Gear S3's rotating bezel is far more intuitive for navigation than the touchscreen it also features, and gives it that outdoor sports vibe. Built on the lightweight Tizen OS, battery life can last up to four days between charges; but the software has a relatively small app library compared to the amount available on WatchOS and Android Wear. If you're after something more like a traditional watch, with some added smart features, the Gear S3 is for you.

Samsung Gear S3 specs

Fitness trackers

While the smartwatch market begins to slow, wearables in general continue to gain momentum, led primarily by the popularity of fitness trackers.

Fitbit Charge 2

By no means the only choice when it comes to Fitbit, the Charge 2 is simply the best of the bunch. It sports a large OLED screen, a five-day battery life, interchangeable straps, superb accuracy and a solid build quality. The device relies on connecting to your phone for GPS connectivity, which may be a gripe for some users. Otherwise, at 129 it's a solid pick.

Microsoft Band 2

If you're looking for something a little more powerful, the Microsoft Band 2 is one of the most robust fitness trackers on the market. It packs a whopping 11 sensors, including built in GPS, a barometer for measuring altitude, and UV and skin temperature sensors. Although a full charge will only last you two days, it is great for most activities and provides a comprehensive built in health dashboard. Naturally the price is at the top end, so expect to pay over 160 for the pleasure.

VR/AR

The most compelling applications of virtual and augment reality devices have been within industry, and continue to transform the way we visualise projects and perform tasks.

Hololens

Although first demoed alongside an AR version of Minecraft at 2015's E3, Hololens is first and foremost a business tool. Based on our own experiences of the product, it is safe to say that the Hololens is set to shake up the computing industry. Its apps are already compelling: for example SketchUp allows for the visualisation of fully customisable 3D buildings on a blank space. This space can even be arranged as a second screen to a monitor, with the ability to drag and drop objects as you would normally. It is tech like this that makes its business use immediately apparent, as any designer will be able to recreate their projects in the real world as they work.

Although it is still in development, there are some niggling problems; chief among these is its tiny field of view. It is also a high end product with a premium price tag, and if you plan to pre-order it will set you back 2,700.

HTC Vive Business Edition

In an attempt to expand its user base beyond the consumer market, HTC announced it would be releasing an enterprise-focused edition of its VR headset. The Vive BE provides a bespoke VR package for businesses wishing to incorporate the technology into the workplace, offering dedicated support lines, commercial licensing opportunities, and the option to bulk buy. HP has already demonstrated the power of the tech, by helping the Bank of England recreate an iconic former site that was demolished in 1925. Using the HTC Vive, centuries old architecture has been brought back to life through virtual guided tours. Still in its relative infancy, businesses are only beginning to realise the potential applications of the technology.

Stress Relief

Unlike health devices that are focused on strenuous activity, some products are encouraging you to do less, all in the name of reducing stress.

WellBe bracelet

The WellBe band uses a mobile app to analyse your heart rate alongside your calendar entries, and is able to tell you at what point of the day you were most stressed. It is a simple tool to help you identify when your stress levels are most elevated, and suggest ways in which they can be brought down. This includes a series of plans for meditation and breathing exercises, and general tips for living a more relaxed lifestyle. There is even a model made from cork that is lightweight and soft against your arm, although at $149 it's a little pricey.

Bellabeat Leaf Urban

The Bellabeat Leaf Urban is the perfect device for women who dislike wearing wristbands but want to keep track of their health. Although it can be placed on the wrist with a strap, its biggest selling point is that it can be worn around the neck like a piece of jewelry or affixed to a bra or belt. The pebble shaped sensor is able to learn your habits and provide insights into your daily routine, by tracking breathing, sleeping and activity.

The UK's new Prime Minister, Theresa May, appears to have banned smartwatches from official cabinet meetings, on the grounds that foreign governments could hack them and listen in on political conversations.

"The Russians are trying to hack everything," an anonymous inside source told the Telegraph, which broke the story.

IT Pro contacted Number 10's press office, which declined to comment.

Smartwatches like the Apple Watch were allowed in David Cameron's cabinet meetings during his tenure as PM, and caused hilarity last year, when Michael Gove accidentally pressed play on a Beyonc track.

However, they now join the list of electronic gadgets banned from cabinet use, which also includes smartphones and tablets, banned in late 2013.

The worldwide political climate has become tenser in regards to cyber security, following several incidents attributed to nation state hackers.

A leak of 19,000 emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) occurred in July, which Homeland Security today blamed on Russia.

Last year, the German government accused the NSA and GCHQ of spying on Angela Merkel and other German officials through the use of malware called Regin. This malware, which was said to be one of the most advanced malicious software ever exposed, was found on the laptop of one of Germany's high-ranked leaders.

Smartwatches have also been banned in Australian cabinet meetings, after Alastair MacGibbon, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's cyber advisor, said as they could be a potential risk to national security.

Apple has launched five new Apple Watches at its annual hardware launch event in San Francisco.

The Apple Watch Series 2 is once again available in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm. In addition to the existing aluminium, steel and Herms editions in the now rebranded Series 1, the company introduced two new options - ceramic and Nike+.

A wide variety of straps is also available, made from materials including fluoroelastomer, leather and steel, all of which come in different colour options (more on this below).

There have been no changes to the battery life on the Apple Watch Series 2, compared to the Apple Watch Series 1, however it does now have a more powerful system chip - the SiP 2 - and is waterproof to a depth of 50 metres, a welcome feature for swimmers and surfers. It also has a new screen and, for the first time, a built-in GPS.

Quick facts

Price: 369 - 1,550UK release date: 16 September 2016Battery life: 18 hours

Apple Watch 2 aluminium

Formerly known as Sport, "aluminium" is the entry level device for the Apple Watch Series 2, as it was in the first iteration of the device. It is more expensive than the original Apple Watch Sport was at launch (369 vs 299), which could be attributed to its new features, including dual-core processor and brighter screen.

The Apple Watch Sport 2 is available in four case colours: silver, black, gold and rose gold, all of which are made from Aluminium. 12 different colour fluoroelastomer and woven nylon straps are available at launch and, if the last Apple Watch is anything to go by, more colours could be joining the ranks in about six months' time.

Apple Watch 2 steel

Formerly known simply as "Apple Watch", Apple has decided to update the name of its mid-market wearable, calling it the Apple Watch Series 2 steel. With grey, black or silver brushed steel casing and leather, metal and fluoroelastomer strap options, it's once again the up-market-but-not-too-flashy entry for the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch 2 edition

Apple has ditched the 18-carat gold and rose gold Edition lines and introduced instead a ceramic casing option in series 2. It's not quite as pricey as the original Edition was, starting at 1,249 and going up to only 1,299. It is available with just one strap, white fluoroelastomer, to complement the white chassis.

Apple Watch 2 Herms

Apple's collaboration with French fashion house Herms began last year and continues with Apple Watch Series 2. It's the watch straps, rather than the casing (which is all brushed aluminium), that sets the Herms range apart. Indeed, the most expensive device in the range, clocking in at 1,549, is the Apple Watch Herms Stainless Steel Case with toupe Swift Leather Double Buckle Cuff.

Apple Watch 2 Nike+

Building on its reputation as a sports and fitness device, Apple has teamed up with Nike for the Apple Watch Series 2 to bring the Nike+ version of the device. The main differences between the Nike+ Apple Watch and the rest of the range are on the software side - specifically the Nike Running Club App, which is built in, as well as some exclusive watch faces. There is one cosmetic difference, though, which is a Nike-designed fluoroelastomer band.

Apple Watch 2 Apps

Apple Watch Series 2's built-in GPS has opened up a wealth of new apps. One of the most interesting is ViewRanger, a hiking app, that guides the wearer along a given route. It will monitor their fitness along the way and tell them when they have come to the end of their route.

Apple also debuted Pokmon Go on the Apple Watch, once again focusing on its fitness credentials and working kilometres walked - an integral part of the game for trainers wanting to hatch eggs - into the device's fitness monitoring. The device will also tap the wearer on the wrist when there is a Pokstop nearby.

Software

Apple Watch Series 2 will run watchOS 3 straight out of the box.

Is it worth upgrading?

It's always hard to tell before we've had a chance to review a new device properly. We are pretty excited by the swimming, hiking and Pokmon Go-ing capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 2, although we will have to wait to test them ourselves to see if they live up to expectations.

What we would say is that, if you were holding out for the second iteration of the Apple Watch, you haven't wasted your time.

Apple's watchOS software is the operating system that sits of the core of the Apple Watch. While it's similar to the iOS mobile and tablet software, it's specially adapted for wearable use, running modified versions of iOS apps.

At WWDC 2016, Apple launched the third and latest version of the watchOS software, which brings with it performance boosts, new features and a series of cosmetic tweaks and upgrades. Here's everything you need to know about watchOS 3.

Apple watchOS 3 at a glance

• Apple Watch apps now launch instantly
• Improved navigation through app dock and Control Centre
• New SOS function enables quick emergency alerts

Apple watchOS 3 latest news

07/09/2016: watchOS 3 will launch on 13 September, Apple has announced.

While the features of the new OS were largely already known, the company did reveal several new apps, including Pokemon Go, which will integrate the features Pokmon Go with the Watch's fitness focus.

10/08/2016:Apple has seeded watchOS 3 Developer Beta 5 one week ahead of schedule. The beta allows developers to get their heads around the updated operating system for Apple's wearable and develop new apps for it, or work on their existing ones.

This beta releasejustcontains bug fixes, rather than new features. It solves a problem in Siri,where the virtual assistant "may not provide the intended response" when a user makes a request involving a deleted app.

Alongside that, it eliminates a bug in Xcode that caused the debugging console to sometimes print out excessive amounts of logging indicating WCSessionState changes when using Watch Connectivity in watchOS Simulator.

watchOS Developer Beta 5 is one of four fifth-iteration developer betas released simultaneously, the other three being for iOS 10, tvOS 10 and macOS Sierra. Unlike iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, however, there is no public beta for Apple Watch.

The completed version of watchOS 3 is due to launch this autumn, potentially at Apple's anticipated September Special Event, where the Apple Watch 2 could also make an appearance.

13/06/2016:Apple has announced watchOS 3, the latest version of the Apple Watch's operating system, along with a host of new features.

One of the most important new features is that the Apple Watch's performance has been vastly improved, with apps launching seven times faster than in watchOS 2.

Watch apps now launch instantly, thanks to the fact that they can now update in the background. The watch will also store your favourite apps in memory, meaning it can access them even quicker.

Navigation settings have been overhauled too. Pressing the side button will launch a customizable dock of your favourite apps, similar to the one found in macOS. All apps in the dock are viewed live, allowing you to preview apps without fully launching them.

WatchOS 3 now includes a Control Centre tab to give you instant access to your settings - just swipe up from the bottom of the face. Watch faces can quickly be changed by swiping from left to right, and they now support more complications.

For those who felt the selection of faces was getting a little stale, Apple is introducing some new options; a Minnie Mouse watch face to compliment the Mickey Mouse offering, one based on the Apple Watch's activity rings, and a more elegant option dubbed 'Numerals'.

Reply settings have been spruced up too. In addition to making message replies more streamlined, watchOS 3 now includes a handwriting input feature, which Apple has dubbed Scribble. It may be familiar to Android fans waiting for the Android Wear 2.0 update.

One of the most important additions to the Apple Watch, however, comes in the form of the SOS app. By pressing and holding on the side button, users can initiate a call with emergency services.

At the conclusion of the call, it will share your location and an emergency message with both the emergency services and with an ICE contact, followed by the users' medical information. This feature will work internationally.

Elsewhere, the activity app has been updated with new sharing tools to compare and compete against friends and family, and has been overhauled for wheelchair users.

'Time to stand' has been replaced with 'time to roll', and the activity rings have been adapted to take advantage of wheelchair users' different physical movements.

Apple Pay can now be used from within apps, allowing developers to include the feature directly on websites. A host of new developer tools were also unvailed, designed to allow the creation of more watch apps, including watch-specific games.

The developer preview is available today, and will roll out for all Apple Watch owners in Autumn 2016.

13/06/2016:A significant update to watchOS 2, or perhaps even the next version of the operating system, watchOS 3, could appear at WWDC this evening during Tim Cook's keynote.

WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) has traditionally been focused on software updates, with OS X 10.12 and iOS 10 both expected to launch as well. It's therefore not unreasonable to think a new version of watchOS could appear, although it's only been nine months, rather than a year, since the launch of watchOS.

Other rumours for tonight's keynote include an update to tvOS, a new Apple Watch, the iPhone 7, the iPad Air 3, new AI capabilities for Siri and a push into home automation with updates to HomeKit.

Find out all about what to expect from WWDC and follow the coverage as it happens on our dedicated page.

17/05/2016: Apple has released the latest update for watchOS 2, which includes minor bug and performance fixes.

This update comes almost two months after the public release of watchOS 2.2, which introduced multi-watch support for iPhone, Apple Maps improvements and other tweaks.

Apple seeded two betas of watchOS 2.2.1 to developers, before releasing its publically. It contains a number of security and performances patches that are partly described on the Apple security log.

This is the fourth update Apple has released for the second version of its watch operating system.

More details on the Apple Watch 2 and the next iteration of watchOS are expected at WWDC 2016 in June.

More information on this watchOS update can be found on Apple's support page.

09/09/15 - Apple's much-hyped WWDC event back in June confirmed that Apple Watch users wouldn't have to wait too long to upgrade to an updated OS on their device.

Today, at a special Apple event - which also saw the iPhone 6s and iPad Pro, among other things, unveiled - the tech giant confirmed Apple Watch OS 2 will roll out on 16 September.

Apple said the next-gen OS would ensure apps operated much more quickly and with greater fluidity by running natively through the Watch's software. What's more, the firm will enable third-party developers to display information as 'complications'.

"Our customers love Apple Watch and tell us its incredible health and fitness features are having a huge impact on their lives," said Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations.

"We're excited to expand Apple Watch's functionality with watchOS 2 and offer even more personal choice with beautiful new styles and colors."

Apple watchOS 3: release date and pricing

Apple launched WatchOS 3 at its WWDC developer conference on 13 June. The developer preview is currently available, with a full public rollout of the software coming in Autumn 2016. Just like other OS releases from Apple, this update will be free to users.

Apple watchOS 3: specs and features

While Apple has not released an updated version of the Apple Watch - as many were expecting - the company has instead made significant improvements to the device's core operating system.

For many users, this is likely to make their Apple Watch feel like a new device, as in addition to new features and functions, watchOS 3 is also slated to bring in some impressive performance benefits.

Instant apps

Apple Watch apps can now be launched instantly, with boot times up to seven times faster than watchOS 2. This is thanks to the fact that favourite apps are now saved in memory, and apps can retrieve data in the background.

Improved navigation

WatchOS 3 includes a Control Centre feature for quick access to all your device settings, which can be found by swiping up from the watch face. Also introduced in the new OS is a dock system similar toMacs, which allows users to store their favourite apps for easy access.

SOS app

Apple has intorduced the SOS app with watchOS 3. This allows users to press and hold the side button to start a call with the emergency services. Once the call has finished, it will send the relevant authorities - as well as your ICE contact - your location and a message. The app will also display your medical info.

Social activity tools

New features integrated into the Apple Watch Activity app allow you to directly compare your fitness results with your friends and family. You can send them encouragement (or trash talk) and see detailed metrics on how your performance stacks up.

Wheelchair activity optimisation

Apple has taken the needs of wheelchair users into consideration, and retooled the Apple Watch's Activity app to better accomodate them. For example, the 'time to stand' reminder has now been changed to 'time to roll', and the app includes two dedicated workouts for wheelchair users.

The activity tracking algorithm has also been optimised to take into account the different physical movements of wheelchair users.

New developer tools

Apple Watch apps can now use ApplePay from directly within apps, opening up more opportunities for developers to introduce the technology. Apple also announced a bunch of new features, including SpriteKit and SceneKit support, to make it easier for developers to create great Apple Watch apps.

Thinking about buying an Apple Watch? Don't until you've read our Apple Watch review to help make an informed decision...

This article was originally published on 09/09/2015. It was updated on 13/06/2016 to reflect current news.

Intel has recalled its Basis Peak smartwatch, because it could overheat, causing burns or blistering to the wearer.

Only 0.2 per cent of the watches are thought to be faulty, but Intel made the decision to recall them all, just to be on the safe side. It will not be replacing the watch or offering an alternative in future.

"We had hoped to update the software on your watch to address the problem. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we aren't able to develop such a solution without completely compromising the user experience," said Josh Walden, SVP and general manager for Intel's New Technology Group, in a statement posted to Intel's website. "This was a tough decision, but your safety is our top priority."

The recall affects all Basis Peak smartwatches manufactured between November 2014 and June 2016. The company is now asking anyone who bought one of the wearables to return it, along with the charger and any other accessories, in exchange for a full refund.

For those concerned they will be losing their fitness data, Intel has reassured customers it will be available until December 2016, although at that point, Intel will shut down the online services and all data will be deleted. However, owners can download their data if they wish to keep a record of their workouts.

"On behalf of the Basis Science team, I want to personally apologise for this situation. We know that many of you love using your Basis Peak watches and have made it part of your daily lives, and we are very sorry for the disruption this will cause you," concluded Walden.

Apple Watch at a glance

• Apple Watch has gone on sale worldwide online and in Apple Stores
• There are four models of Apple Watch: Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Herms and the 18k gold Apple Watch Edition. Prices range from 299 to 13,500 inc VAT.
• The smartwatch features a maximum 18-hour battery life and MagSafe 'wireless' induction charger.
• Standout Apple Watch features include making and receiving calls, viewing email and messages, and "taptic" notifications.
• Over 3,500 Apple Watch apps are available to download now.
• WatchOS 2, the updated Apple Watch operating system, is available now

Apple Watch: latest news

25/07/2016: Apple has launched a range of Apple Watch bands especially for the Olympics, but they will only be available from one store in Brazil.

A range of straps, in national colours, are on sale in the Apple Store at VillageMall in Barra da Tijuca the only place where punters will be able to buy the items, according to GQ.

The straps will be available from early August and come in a variety of colours corresponding to the national flags and colours used by 14 major competing teams, such as US, UK, China, Germany, and Brazil, to name a few.

Despite the lack of availability, US sprinter Trayvon Bromell has managed to get his hands on the US strap and posted a picture on Twitter to prove it.

The straps will be priced at R$329.

21/03/2016:Apple has announced a price-cut for the Apple Watch, as well as a new selection of bands for the device.

Unveiled alongside the iPhone SE at a special event earlier today, the new bands include updated colour options, such as a black version of the Milanese Loop.

Apple also revealed an entirely new band, made out of woven nylon, which will also be available in a selection of colours.

As part of the announcement, Apple also revealed that the Apple Watch was the most popular smartwatch in the world, despite initially slow uptake compared to the company's other devices.

To celebrate this, the company has lowered the price, bringing the cost of the Apple Watch down to a mere $299.

03/02/2016:A man in Aberystwyth has won a court battle against Apple after his Apple Watch broke within 10 days of purchase.

Gareth Cross, 32, bought the Apple Watch Sport in July 2015, only to spot a crack in the screen just over a week later. When he took it to Apple to be fixed, the company said it was not covered by warranty, despite the device being described as scratch-resistant.

Subsequently, Cross took Apple to the small claims court in his home town, claiming the company had broken the Sale Of Googs Act 1979.

Apple fought the case for six months, but has now been ordered to refund Cross the cost of the Watch and pay 429 court costs.

Cross told BBC News: "I couldn't understand why they would want to go to court over the issue, but ultimately I wanted [to] stand by my consumer rights."

The experience has not put Cross off buying another Apple Watch, however, who added: "I plan to buy another Apple Watch, as for the 10 days I had it, I really liked it. But I may wait until the next model is out."

IT Pro contacted Apple for its response to the ruling, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

25/01/2016:The Apple Watch could receive a refresh in March with new straps, casings, and partnerships with fashion brands all on the cards, it has been claimed.

9to5Mac reports that the spring update is unlikely to feature any new hardware functionality, although it could launch alongside WatchOS 2.2, which is expected to introduce some new features. A full update in the form of the Apple Watch 2 is expected to come in September.

The company has also released two limited edition Apple Watch Sport models for Chinese New Year, one with a silver aluminium case, the other with a gold case and both with a red fluoroelastomer band. They are only being released in China, however.

13/01/2016: Juniper Research has revealed the Apple Watch was responsible for more than half of all smart watch shipments in 2015, despite only going on sale in September.

James Moar, who wrote the report, said overall, 17.1 million smart watches shipped last year, of which 8.8m were Apple Watches. Android Wear-branded competitors accounted for less than 10 per cent of sales.

Juniper attributed the watch's success was its wealth of apps, with 10,000 available on Apple's device compared to only 4,000 for its Android-powered counterparts.

"The smartwatch is now a category waiting for a market," Moar said. "Newer devices have offered more polished looks and subtly different functions, but no large changes in device capabilities or usage. With smartwatch functions established, it is now up to consumers to decide if they want them, rather than technology companies providing more reasons."

The report added that there are still barriers against smart watch adoption, including that people still don't see the need for one. In fact, of those surveyed, 30 per cent said they probably wouldn't use one even if they bought one.

04/01/2016:Researchers in Taiwan have invented a way to use the Apple Watch as a remote control capable of piloting drones and controlling lights.

The software, dubbed 'Dong coding' by company PVD+, has been in development for 18 months, and now its creators claim that it can be installed on any device.

"Previously we've needed complicated controls to fly drones, but now we can use a wearable device, and through human behaviour and gestures directly interact with them - using a hand to control and fly drones directly," the company's founder, Mark Ven, told Reuters.

Lights can also be turned on and off, or changed colour, by simply clapping twice or writing letters in the air.

Drawbacks of the technology include interference from environmental factors such as wind, and high battery drain with the Watch typically only able to support the software for 20 minutes before losing power.

10/12/2015:Rumours have started to circulate about the new version of the Apple Watch, which is expected to launch next year. According to our sister titleKnow Your Mobile,Apple Watch 2 will be unveiled in March 2016. IT Pro, however, is a little skeptical of this timeline, particularly as the original Apple Watch range and the Watch Herms were both revealed at Apple's annual September special event in California, which is when Apple traditionally launched new hardware, including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s ranges respectively.

Whichever date it turns out to be, the Apple Watch 2 will undoubtedly offer new features. One rumour is that it willbe able to operate independently of an iPhone, although some analysts suggest this won't happen until 2017. Other rumours include a better battery, more storage, better Siri functions, built-in GPS, a camera and even more sensors.

04/12/2015:A document released by the US Patent Officeshows a new screen technology that could make their way into the second version of the Apple Watch.

The patent, titled "Woven Display", was filed on 30 May 2014 - about three months before the current Apple Watch was revealed - and pretty much does what it says on the tin.

The abstract for the patent describes: "A woven fabric includes light transmissive fibers woven into the fabric to provide a visual display. The fabric may be used as a tether to releasably connect a portable electronic device to a user. The light transmissive fibers may transmit light to convey information to the user. The fabric may also be used as part of the housing of an electronic device."

What this could mean in practice is, instead of using Bluetooth, the next Apple Watch will connect directly to the wearer's iPhone and that, rather than having a separate case and strap, it will be one integral unit.

IT Pro would at this point like to sound a note of caution, however. Not every patent becomes a working product - they are a way of protecting inventions not a promise to make them in real life.

05/11/2015: All eyes will be on Apple Watch sales during the Q4 holiday quarter as a barometer of the strength of the nascent smart watch market," analyst house Canalys has claimed.

According to Canalys' figures, Apple has shipped a total of 7 million Apple Watches since the devices launched this summer, and was the only company to ship more than 300,000 units in Q3.

"After experiencing significant supply chain constraints early on, Apple managed to overcome its production struggles with the Apple Watch and is building momentum going into Q4," analyst Daniel Matte said.

Principal analyst Chris Jones added, "WatchOS 2 has brought native apps to the platform, and new colours and styles have refreshed the lineup, but Apple needs to continue to generate demand six months after launch."

28/10/2015: The Apple Watch was one of the products that helped Apple's profits reach new highs this quarter. Products not including the iPhone and iPad (so that's the Watch, iPods, apps and other accessories), increased 15 per cent in the last quarter to $3.05bn (1.99bn) in revenue, which marks a 61% year-on-year increase. Commenting on Watch revenues specifically, Tim Cook said they were up "sequentially," but wouldn't go into the specifics.

07/10/2015: Rumours are starting to circulate about a successor to the Apple Watch. Unsurprisingly dubbed Apple Watch 2, some analyst houses believe this will be the device that Apple starts to make serious money. That's what a reportby analysts at Mizuho Securities is saying. The analysts said that customers are waiting to see what Apple does next in the market before committing to buy. According to IT Pro sister publication Alphr, the next Apple Watch will be faster, thinner and have a bigger battery.

Apple Watch release date

After a supply chain hiccup that saw the release delayed by two months, Apple Watch went on sale in shops in the UK in late June 2015, although it had been available to pre-order since 10 April.

As well as the UK, Apple Watch can be bought online or in store in the US, Canada India, Chile, South Africa, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, China, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and Japan.

Apple Watch Price and different versions

Apple watch is being pitched squarely as fashion and fitness device, with supermodel and marathon runner Christy Turlington Burns becoming a spokesperson for both sides of the coin.

It is available in two screen sizes, 38mm and 42mm, four models - Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Herms, and Apple Watch Edition - eight different case types and two different screen materials, and ranges in price from 299 to 13,500.

Apple Watch Sport

Apple Watch Sport is the entry-level Apple Watch and costs 299 for the 38mm screen version or 339 for the 42mm screen version.

At launch, Apple Watch Sport was available only with a silver or Space Gray anodised aluminium case, but on 9 September the company unveiled two new case styles - rose gold aluminium and yellow gold aluminium - colours that had until then only been available on the high-end Apple Watch Edition.

Apple Watch Sport is only available with a fluoroelastomer band with pin-and-tuck fastening at the point of purchase, although customers can choose from eight different colours, including blue, orange, lavender and midnight blue.

Apple Watch

The rather confusingly named Apple Watch is the mid-range smartwatch from Apple and costs between 479 and 949 depending on the configuration.

Apple Watch is the most customisable device in the entire range. While its stainless steel case is only available in two colour options, silver and Space Black, customers can choose from 12 different strap options, three in fluoroelastimer, two with a classic buckle, two bracelets, two leather loops, two with modern buckle, and a milanese loop.

Apple Watch Herms

Apple Watch Herms is, as the name would suggest, a collaboration between Apple and luxury French accessories maker Herms. The new addition to the Apple Watch family was launched on 9 September 2015, exactly one year after the range was originally revealed and costs from 1,000 to 1350.

This version of the Apple Watch offers three Herms-designed strap styles - Single Tour, Double Tour and Cuff - all of which are made from leather and are available in three, four, and one different colours respectively. It also has three numeral display options and three unique typefaces to choose from - Clipper, Cape Cod, and Espace - making it rather less customisable than the rest of the range.

Unlike the Sport, Edition or Watch, Apple Watch Herms can only be purchased in the UK at Apple's Covent Garden and Regent Street stores, the Apple Store within Selfridges, Dover Street Market and Herms' shop on New Bond Street (all of these locations are in London).

Apple Watch Edition

Apple Watch Edition is the top of the range version of Apple's first wearable and has a price scheme to match, starting at 8,000 for the 38mm 18-carat rose gold case version with a white fluoroelastomer band, all the way up to 13,500 for the 38mm 18-carat yellow gold case with bright red Modern Buckle and 38mm 18-carat rose gold case with rose grey Modern Buckle.

While the luxury device can be purchased online, it is also possible to buy it from Apple Stores selected high-end outlets such as Selfridges in London and Galleries Lafayette in Paris. Would-be owners can't just turn up and buy an Apple Watch Edition, though.

Instead they must pre-book an hour-long, one-to-one appointment with an in-store expert, during which they will be taken on their own personalised "journey", as Apple has apparently termed it, ending in the purchase of the Watch.

Special Editions

In January 2016, Apple released a special model of the Apple Watch Sport for the Chinese market ahead of the Chinese New Year, which falls on 8 February 2016. The device features a red fluoroelastomer strap - considered an auspicious colour in Chinese culture and also deeply associated with the Chinese New Year - and a choice of silver aluminium or gold aluminium case.

Apple Watch specs and features

Apple Watch iPhone support

Apple Watch is not self-sufficient and requires an iPhone 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, or 6s Plus running iOS 8.2 or later in order to work. This is because, even since the release of WatchOS 2, much of the "heavy lifting" is done by the phone which then pushes information to the device.

Upgrading to the latest version of iOS 8.2 will automatically make users' iPhones Apple Watch-ready, as it includes a bundled Apple Watch app.

While this may be handy for future Apple Watch owners, the fact it is immoveable it has drawn the ire of Apple customers who have no intention of buying the wearable.

Apple Watch specs

Apple Watch boasts a significant amount of new technology and design features.

The most immediately apparent of these is the Digital Crown, which lets users scroll, zoom and navigate their way around the screen quickly and easily without interfering with any information displayed.

The screen, made from Ion-X glass in the case of the Apple Watch Sport and sapphire glass on the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Hermes and Apple Watch Edition, features a new Force Touch sensor, which can tell the difference between a tap and a press, and react accordingly. The new Taptic Engine, meanwhile, notifies users of messages or alerts via a gentle wrist tap and can also be used to remind them to move more frequently.

During a speech at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet conference, MacRumours reports, Apple chief Cook said: "If I sit for too long, it will actually tap me on the wrist to remind me to get up and move, because a lot of doctors think sitting is the new cancer."

"Ten minutes before the hour, [the smartwatch] will remind you to move. We have a lot of people using the Apple Watch at Apple, and ten minutes before the hour, suddenly they all get up and move. It took a little to get used to, but it's great," he added.

The Glances functionality, meanwhile, puts the wearer instantly in touch with the information they care about most - from the weather to sports results and more, and Digital Touch lets users interact with other users by tapping or doodling.

Users can also personalise their device by choosing from dozens of watch faces, from classic watch hands to Mickey Mouse.

Inside, the Apple Watch features the new S1 "system-on-a-chip", which was built specifically for the smartwatch. It also has an optical heart rate sensor on the rear of the case and contains standard fitness sensors including an altimeter, gyroscope, pedometer and accelerometer.

Apple Watch Battery life and charger

Apple Watch's lithium-ion battery is considered by many to be a make-or-break issue for the success of the device.

Paul Jackson, principal analyst at Ovum, said: "This is still the major deal breaker for mass adoption. Sure, tech firms have trained us to charge our phones every day, but devices like watches, fit bands, glasses etc need multi-day capacities."

Sadly, that's not a criteria Apple Watch meets. Apple has said the device is designed for all-day use, which it defines as 18 hours, although how much the user interacts with it, by repeatedly activating the screen or making calls, for example, can reduce that figure.

An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch in March that the battery would be replaceable, quelling fears that the device would become obsolete within a few years as battery life drops off. iFixit seems to have confirmed this in its teardown review, although it did apparently "take a bit of prying".

Apple Watch uses a "wireless" magnetic induction to charge, rather than a plug-in cable like the iPhone. We've put wireless in quotation marks as the charger is attached to the mains electric supply by a cable and adheres to the back of the smartwatch while charging using MagSafe technology.

That said, Apple Watch is compatible with wireless Qi charging pads as well if you are happy to take your watch off and lay it down on an enabled coffee table.

Apple Pay and NFC

Another flagship feature for Apple Watch is Apple Pay. The technology, which is also boasted by the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus allows wearers to pay for goods by tapping their smartwatch against an NFC reader in much the same way as contactless cards work.

The service was rolled out in the USA initially, where it gained some good traction, according to Apple, and has since appeared in the UK, where it is supported by a number of retailers and banks.

Apple Watch Apps

There are already 3,500 apps available for Apple Watch, from proprietary Apple apps, such as iTunes and Mail, to significant third-party offerings from the likes of Salesforce and even Starbucks.

Health and Fitness

As well as being a mobile device, Apple Watch is being strongly positioned as a health and fitness companion, with Apple launching the HealthKit developer platform alongside iOS 8 to encourage app makers to create new health and fitness apps for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and, by extension, Apple Watch.

As well as built-in fitness tracking and motivation apps like Workout, Move and Activity, third-party apps like Nike+ Running, Runtastic, Strava, and Lifesum are also available straight away. Apps for more holistic exercise regimes, such as yoga, are available as well.

Travel

There is an abundance of travel apps available on Apple Watch, from flights to taxis to comparison sites. Airline apps for Apple Watch, such as British Airways and EasyJet, allow the user to track their flight status in real time, as well as informing them of when their gate has opened and providing a weather forecast for their destination.

Expedia and TripAdvisor also have apps on the Apple Watch. The former lets users check their upcoming travel itineraries, including flights and hotel information, while the latter can provide them of things to do, restaurants to visit and other important tourist information in their surroundings.

Other travel apps include National Rail, Uber, and remote car unlocking for VW and BMW cars.

Social Media

No mobile device would be complete without social media apps, so it's no surprise to find Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest all have Apple Watch apps available.

The Twitter app notifies users of new tweets or retweets via a tap on the wrist, which they can also read in full on the Apple Watch Screen. Wearers can also use the app to compose tweets via voice and follow trending topics.

Instagram, meanwhile, lets users browse their feed, like photos, and leave emoji comments, as well as delivering notifications.

Business

There has already been a significant number of work and productivity-focused apps announced. These include Salesforce and over 20 Salesforce partners, Invoice2go, Wunderlist and OfficeTime, with more expected to follow.

Apple Watch predictions and expectations

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is anticipating demand for Apple Watch Sport will be highest out of the three models, with half of the first quarter production run of five to six million devices being given over to the entry-level device.

The Apple Watch is said to account for around a third of the total first quarter production order, with the top of the range Apple Watch Edition making up the final 20 per cent.

However, analyst James McQuivey from Forrester predicted Apple will sell 10 million devices before the end of 2015, which, when taken with the WSJ's estimates, could go some way towards explaining the serious delay seen between ordering online and delivery at launch.

McQuivey said: "By [the end of the year], at least 100 million people will have an iPhone 5 or 6 that is capable of connecting to Apple Watch. All Apple needs is a 10 per cent conversion rate to sell 10 million units."

Technology market research firm CCS Insight has gone even further, predicting Apple will sell 20 million of its smartwatches this year. This would boost wearables market growth by an estimated 150 per cent to 75 million gadgets in 2015, hitting 350 million come 2018.

Other wearable tech creators are also pinning their hopes on the success of the Apple Watch, Reuters reported. Ben Wood, a gadget reviewer at CCS Insight, told the newswire: "If Apple is successful, it'll create a rising tide that will lift the whole market."

Will Apple Watch be a success?

The launch of the Apple Watch marks the consumer electronics giant out as a relative latecomer to the wearables party, with rivals Samsung, Sony and LG having already released products over the past year.

However, given Apple's track record for popularising existing technologies that have previously failed to capture the imagination of consumers (particularly in the case of the MP3 and tablet sectors), market watchers seem assured the Apple Watch will prove to be a hit.

Analyst firm Forrester Research has predicted the devices will go on to dominate the wearables market right through 2015, until its competitors catch-up and eat into its sales. This will cause Apple Watch sales to slow to the extent that its share of all smartwatch units sold will fall below 50 per cent during 2016.

This is far from the consensus, however, and sales expectations as put together by Business Insider have figures for Apple Watch varying significantly from one analyst to the next.

Fitbit's lawsuit against rival activity tracker Jawbone has been thrown out by an International Trade Commission judge and its patents ruled invalid.

The company was attempting to assert that Jawbone breached three of its patents - a wearable heart rate monitor, portable monitoring devices, and using a motion detector to monitor physical activity.

However, Judge Thomas Prender has ruled that these ideas are not patent eligible, and therefore recommended that the case be thrown out "in its entirety". The case was due to go to trial on 4 August.

"This case, among other patent actions, was brought improperly by Fitbit in an attempt to burden Jawbone with having to defend invalid patents in multiple venues," Jawbone said in a statement.

"While we are disappointed in the administrative law judge's decision, we believe we have a strong legal basis to ask the full Commission to reverse it," a Fitbit spokesperson said. "Fitbit will continue to assert its IP against Jawbone as appropriate to protect the innovations central to our product offerings."

The two wearable companies have been suing and counter-suing each other for over a year. Both companies argued patent infringement (and had their claims ruled as invalid), with Jawbone also alleging that Fitbit stole trade secrets by systematically snapping up ex-staff members.

"Jawbone's case against Fitbit before the ITC is still pending, and the company awaits a decision," Jawbone said. "Jawbone's trade secret action against Fitbit in California state court continues to move toward trial."

Fitbit is also currently in the midst of another legal battle - this time against a class-action lawsuit which argues that the company's PurePulse heart rate trackers are "dangerously inaccurate", and off by "a very significant margin".

The company is currently leading the fitness-tracking industry. It managed to double its sales last year but has taken a stock hit of over 70 per cent over the past 12 months, as investors fear increasing competition from cheaper or more fully-featured rivals.

Healthcare wearables could be the answer to an overburdened NHS, experts told attendees at Paris' Connected Conference 2016.

Medical services across the globe are becoming increasingly stretched, and nowhere is this more evident than in Britain, where health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been battling over junior doctors' pay and conditions for months.

Patients are having to wait longer and longer before seeing a doctor, but Graham Rittener, founding partner of Zinc, said that the answer to this problem could lie in wearable devices and the Internet of Things.

He agreed that the NHS is having trouble coping with the current demand placed on it. "It's creaking," he said; "it's struggling". The system is overtaxed, he explained.

"A huge part of that is actually at the GP level, where you've got people going to GPs for any sort of ache, pain, whatever... That's one area where we could really help with things like wearables."

According to Julian Penders, co-founder and COO of healthcare wearable company Bloom, another key area for wearables is the elimination of the healthcare industry's spiralling costs.

"There's too much cost spend in hospital, too much cost spend in current healthcare," he said. "It has to change, but it cannot change through the existing channels."

A move towards pro-active, preventative healthcare, where patients take ownership of their own health, could really help eliminate hospitals' spending, Penders argued.

"Not every single person can be treated by a doctor," he pointed out. "There's no bandwidth for that." He reassured that wearables are "not cutting out the doctor... we're just being more efficient in using the doctor for what he's good at, which is treatment."

The Pavlok electric shock wristband, which has been designed to stop people over-spending, could present a security risk, Kaspersky Lab has suggested.

Because the wristband connects to your bank account and uses the internet to work, it could be hacked, exposing your bank details to any criminals who wish to mine such data.

"Following the news of the Pavlok wristband which conditions wearers into good spending behaviour by using shock therapy, it is important to factor in the security implications of such wearable devices," Liviu Itoafa, security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, said.

"Wearables face the same security threats as traditional computers. In fact, innovative devices are sometimes even more susceptible to traditional threats. Perhaps even worse yet, in time, these devices will face innovative threats."

The wristband works by keeping tabs on your spending via an app and when it thinks you've spent too much in a certain period of time, it will generate an electric shock in the hope you'll stop splashing cash.

"Wherever devices are used, whatever the technology they're based on, all mobile endpoints that can connect to a network need to be fully secured by the developer ahead of use," Itoafa continued.

Although the wristband is designed for use by consumers rather than businesses, it serves as a reminder to everyone that werabales, especially those that are connected to a corporate network, can pose a risk to both the user and the company as a whole.

"As a further extension of BYOD it needs to be seen within the same overall process. In light of this, companies should review their security strategy to include WYOD (Wear Your Own Device)," Itoafa warned.

"This includes assessing the benefits this technology might bring, and determining the risks and putting in place a strategy to manage it, such as mobile security policies that not only overcome complexity and protect against malware, but also allow for simple human error, loss and theft."

Fitbit is gearing up to introduce mobile payments to its smartwatches with the acquisition of intellectual property from Coin.

The nascent company, based in Silicon Valley, is the creator of two novel payment methods. The first is a smart credit card, also called coin, that holds all of a users' credit cards on one single device. The second, which it has collaborated with MasterCard to create, is a method of integrating payments systems into wearables.

It is the intellectual property for this latter technology that Fitbit acquired last week, although the official announcement has only just been made now. The deal also includes "key personnel", who will join the Fitbit team.

In a statement, James Park, the CEO and co-founder of Fitbit, said: "We are focused on making wearable devices that motivate people to reach their health and fitness goals, and that also make their lives easier with the smart features they need most.

"Coin has been one of the key innovators in advanced payment solutions. The inclusion of their payment technology into our offerings will further our strategy of making Fitbit products an indispensable part of people's lives."

The deal does spell bad news for owners of Coin's own Coin 2.0 wearable device and developers for the platform.

In a statement on its own site, Coin said that customers can continue to use Coin 2.0 until the battery runs out, but it will not be issuing replacements, and Coin Rewards and the Coin Developer Program have been retired with immediate effect.

While this acquisition could, potentially, put the company on a road to competing with Apple Pay and Android Pay, it does not look like Fitbit will be releasing a wearable with payments technology any time soon the company said there are "no plans to integrate Coin's wearable payments technology into the 2016 Fitbit product roadmap".

Wearable News

04/03/16

Wearable users compromising security at work

Unmanaged wearables are infiltrating the enterprise, according to survey from the RSA conference this week.

The report by Centrify states that 69 percent of wearable device owners say they forego login credentials, such as PINs, passwords, fingerprint scanners and voice recognition, to access their devices.

56 percent of wearable owners use their devices to access business apps such as Box, Slack, Trello, Dropbox, Salesforce, Google Docs, Microsoft Office or a combination of these.

Perhaps most alarming, despite the lack of login credentials and ready access to corporate data, 42 percent of wearable owners cite identity theft as their top security concern when it comes to their devices. Lack of IT management and device control comes in second (34 percent) and a general increase in breaches of sensitive work data or information comes in third (22 percent).

“As wearables become more common in the enterprise, IT departments must take serious steps to protect them as carefully as they do laptops and smartphones,” said Bill Mann, chief product officer at Centrify. “Wearables are deceptively private. Owners may feel that due to their ongoing proximity to the body, they’re less likely to fall into the wrong hands. However, hackers don’t need to take physical possession of a device in order to exploit a hole in security.”

11/02/16

Sales of smartwatches have “greatest revenue potential”

Gartner forecasts that 274.6m wearable electronic devices will be sold worldwide in 2016, an increase of 18.4 percent from 232m units in 2015 (see Table below).

Sales of wearable electronic devices will generate revenue of $28.7bn in 2016. Of that, $11.5bn will be from smartwatches.

“From 2015 through 2017, smartwatch adoption will have 48 percent growth largely due to Apple popularising wearables as a lifestyle trend. Smartwatches have the greatest revenue potential among all wearables through 2019, reaching $17.5bn,” said Angela McIntyre, research director at Gartner.

“Though the sales of smartwatches are the one of the strongest types of wearables, their adoption will remain much below sales of smartphones. For example, in 2016 more than 374m smartphones will sell in mature market countries and in large urban areas of emerging market countries, for example, in Hong Kong and Singapore.”

Table 1: Forecast for wearable devices worldwide (millions of units)

Source: Gartner (January 2016)

Fitness wearables — which include wristbands, smart garments, chest straps, sports watches and other fitness monitors — continue to increase in popularity, driven in some part by wellness programmes.

“Of all the fitness wearables, sports watches will be the one product category to maintain its average retail price over the next several years,” says McIntyre. “Race runners, cyclists and divers will choose sports watches over smartwatches because the user interface, capabilities and durability are tailored to the needs of an athlete in their sport. Continued advances in sensors and analytics for sports watches will bring new capabilities that bolster average retail prices.”

What is wearable technology?

Wearable technology, or wearables, can be described as electronic devices that are incorporated into items of clothing or worn as accessories – for example fitness trackers, or perhaps most notably, smartwatches.

Wearables featured heavily at Mobile World Congress earlier this month, including the announcement of the Huawei Watch, its new smartwatch which runs on Android Wear. However it was Apple’s unveiling of the Apple Watch that predictably made headlines around the world.

Apple’s announcement has led to a heightened interest in wearables among consumers, and a number of further couplings between tech and fashion brands have since been revealed – high-end watch manufacturer Tag Heuer is also planning an Android rival to the Apple Watch, while Will.i.am is collaborating with Gucci on a smartband.

However it’s worth noting that most of current generation of smartwatches are useless unless coupled with a smartphone. The exception is the Samsung Gear S which with the right mobile plan will even allow you to make and receive calls using the same mobile number as your main smartphone.

Who is it aimed at?

The wearable tech market is growing at an incredible rate.

Cisco’s annual Visual Networking Index forecast (VNI) predicts that by 2019 there will be more than half a billion wearables globally, up from just 109m in 2014.

In the UK it predicts there will be 16.4m wearable devices by 2019, up from 2.8m in 2014, growing annually by 42 percent. This, says the report, is expected to fuel 18-fold growth in mobile traffic from wearable devices between 2014 and 2019, with most of it channelled through smartphones.

Wearables are currently being championed by the consumer space. However, there’s some debate as to where they will fit in the enterprise, and what opportunity exists for the channel to profit from the trend.

[Update: June 2015 research from 451 Group claims that wearables are moving from consumer niche interest to the enterprise - it predicts that cellular IoT and machine to machine (M2M) connections will increase nearly fourfold globally from 252m in 2014 to 908m in 2019.]

Market opportunity

So what’s in it for the channel? Where’s the revenue opportunity with wearable tech?

At first glance a key vertical being targeted by wearable manufacturers is healthcare, where there are clear use cases. Some distributors have already jumped on board the wearables wagon; broadliner Exertis for example has signed up a number of wearables vendors over the past 12 months with a focus on communication, multimedia and fitness and health.

Elsewhere the smartwatch trend may accelerate desktop phone replacement, especially as these new devices with their own microcosm are also SIP-compliant allowing some clever telephony/data connectivity. This could allow smart resellers to create value-added telephony data packages in particular within “duty of care” instances, such as lone workers that need to be able to call for help quickly.

ISVs that can develop innovative apps that are optimised for watch form factor and power profile is another area of opportunity.

However, it’s not just in the devices where the channel can really profit, say experts. In the same way that employees using their personal devices into the workplace have created a world of consulting, deploying and managing BYOD strategies for the channel, so the same will happen with wearable devices.

The sheer number of new devices flitting on and off the network is likely to cause data management problems. Data loads will have to be monitored more carefully within datacentres and bandwidth should be tracked to avoid bottlenecks.

The channel will need to advise customers on preparing their networks for ‘Wear Your Own Device’ (WYOD). (Ipswitch’s Stephen Demianyk talks about WYOD for Channel Pro here.)

Also, no matter how briefly it is connected, any item that is on the network poses a security risk. Last year, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published a blog highlighting how easy it is to collect personal data using wearable technology.

He argues that the challenge that lies ahead for a reseller isn’t simply selling products; it is selling peace of mind. This will comprise consultancy, services and training, as well as selling complimentary products. There is an opportunity to develop a whole package for wearable tech.

Duncan Forsyth, UK MD at distributor Westcoast points out that many existing device management strategies simply aren’t capable of coping with the governance, risk and compliance (GRC) landscape that they’re now faced with – creating a further opportunity for the channel to advise their customers on navigating the tricky compliance arena.

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman of distributor Wick Hill describes wearables as the next BYOD security problem “because basically wearables appear to be designed without any additional security in mind.”

He agrees this creates significant channel opportunities: “They’re not going to be huge straight away but they are going to be really significant in terms of network access control, leakage protection, wireless security breaches – they are wireless devices – authentication. And then security monitoring, remediation and network forensics are going to really go as well... this is going to really accelerate it.”

Points of interest

But before we all rush out, as consumers, to order our Apple Watches, let’s stop for a moment and consider one of the biggest inhibitors to adoption that Wearable manufacturers face: good, old-fashioned, don’t-look-at-me self consciousness.

This is noted in a study by mobile app developer Apadmi, claimed that more than a third of Brits would feel embarrassed or self-conscious if they wore wearable tech as it currently appears.

Apparently, 35 percent of respondents said they would feel “embarrassed” if they wore it, while 34 percent thought it made people look like “show-offs” and 32 percent claimed that wearable technology makes people look “ridiculous”. In addition, 17 percent said it makes people look “unattractive” when they wear it.

Also just last week, a survey of 2,000 adults, conducted for Hive by British Gas said that just 25 percent of us believe that wearable technology will improve our day-to-day life, while one-in-10 Britons thinks that wearable technology will actually make their lives harder!

(Also, a survey of UK marketing pros by digital agency Greenlight recently revealed that nearly three quarters believe the hype around wearable devices has been unwarranted, claiming the technology to be more about style than substance.)

So there’s clearly a hard sell needed by the manufacturers to get people on board with talking to their wrist, a la Knightrider.

Channel Pro opinion

If we look beyond the hype of the Apple Watch, or the pop culture cache of pop star tie-ins, there is an opportunity for the channel from wearable tech.

WYOD will become an issue within organisations at some point in the future, just like BYOD has. The canny ‘trusted advisor’ should take the opportunity now to have the conversation with their customers about what this will mean for network management, data security, compliance and host of other issues that wearables will bring with them.

UPDATE: Bitdefender's Alexandru Catalin Cosoi talks about the security implications of wearables, and asks are smartwatches secure enough for the office?

Wearables are sinking under a rising tide of cyber attacks, according to security firms Kaspersky Lab and WiseKey, who have joined forces to tackle the issue.

The two companies have put particular emphasis on the fact that smartwatches, fitness trackers, and "payment wristbands" are expected to account for 20 per cent of mobile payment transactions by 2020, according to a report by analysts Tractica. This, they claim, will inevitably mean the devices become an increasingly popular target for cyber criminals.

"Many connected devices and the data they exchange remain worryingly unprotected," the companies said in a joint statement. "This will become even more serious as more of them are used to make payments."

Kaspersky Lab will put its secure software development kit for mobile devices into WiseKey's WIS.WATCH platform, which already provides security software for Bulgari's smartwatch.

Eugene Kaspersky, chairman and CEO of Kaspersky Lab, added: "As the number of connected devices continues to grow, so does the number of threats.

"There's an urgent need to establish and implement higher levels of security for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and we're happy to fork with WiseKey in the development of such a solution."

Carlos Moreira, CEO of WiseKey, said: "This cooperation between WiseKey and Kaspersky Lab represents a breakthrough in IoT cybersecurity [and] opens the door to implementation in other sectors, where the same approach can support a variety of other IoT applications."

The two companies have not yet disclosed when the solution is expected to be available, only that it will based on WiseKey's Cryptographic Root of Trust IoT and NFCTrusted technologies.

Although Fitbit and Apple topped IDC's Worldwide Wearables charts, Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi and BBK gave the better-known American manufacturers a run for their money.

Fitbit's market share accounted for 22.2 per cent of the market in the third quarter of 2015, while Apple followed closely behind with 18.6 per cent, showing strong interest in the Apple Watch in the year of launch.

Fitbit has the advantage in the wearables market because the brand sells more than one product in the space and has been selling its Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Surge for longer than Apple has been selling Apple Watch.

However, Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi and BBK, alongside Garmin, are gaining momentum, with the three vendors taking 17.4 per cent, 3.1 per cent and 4.1 per cent of the market respectively.

"The early stages of the wearables market have led to tight competition among the leading vendors, and Chinese vendors have seized upon market momentum to grab market share," noted Ramon Llamas, research manager for IDC's Wearables team.

He explained the reason for Asian manufacturers rising through the ranks is because wearables are becoming increasingly popular in China especially, where customers are more likely to buy a local brand.

"China has quickly emerged as the fastest-growing wearables market, attracting companies eager to compete on price and feature sets. In addition, multiple vendors have experimented with a broad range of products and applications. The challenge, however, is whether these vendors can expand their presence, as few have extended beyond the country's borders and into other markets."

IDC is predicting that more niche players will start to enter the market in the coming months, especially as cost becomes a bigger factor in customer buying decisions.

"The bifurcation doesn't just exist in features, but also in price," said Jitesh Ubrani, Senior Research Analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. "The average smart watch or band came in at just over $400 and the average basic watch band at $94. This leaves a lot of room for new players like Fossil and niche players like Pebble as they have an opportunity to address this space."

Technology and life sciences law firm Osborne Clark has called for the EU to scrap plans stopping devices being able to access health data generated by wearables and other health and fitness devices.

The EU's European General Data Protection Regulation would apply the same restrictions given to medical records to data measured by mobile devices, possibly preventing analysis by third party apps, despite technology users saying they're happy for their information to be shared.

"At a time when The Government is looking to find a 10bn budget surplus over the next 5 years, the NHS is predicted to be staring at an annual deficit of 2bn. This research shows that people are open to the idea of data-based healthcare, which could drive such cost savings, whilst also improving quality of life," John Fell, a partner at Osborne Clark said.

"The report also highlights that younger generations have a more liberal attitude to sharing data. If health providers act on this and embrace such services, they will realise massive savings. To encourage this, tech companies need to think big and demonstrate real world consumer benefits, for example, will it cut waiting times, or improve people's health?"

The company's study asked 4,000 people around Europe about their health data and how it can be used, with more than half of respondents saying they are happy for their heart rate, sleep patterns, exercise regimes and other information about their bodies to be used for recommendations of treatment. 62 per cent said they would want to be alerted if the data predicted a serious illness.

Fell added that smart use of data is more than just measuring how fast someone is running or their heart rate while exercising. It could potentially result in patients being diagnosed conditions faster and may even save lives.

"A discussion is already taking place amongst manufacturers around self-regulation. However, governmental bodies need to come to the table to add the most important ingredients here, trust and clarity. They need to work with these smart companies to find a path forward."

YouGov has released a report into the wearables market, revealing adoption is similar to that of tablets five quarters after launch of the first devices on the market.

However, the take-up is slower than it was for tablets, with adoption accelerating to 22 per cent after this. YouGov said the reason for this is that it thinks only those already using wearables will purchase new devices, rather than the market widening to those who don't currently own one.

"On the face of it wearables are doing pretty well or at least as well as the tablet was at the same stage of its lifecycle. While looking back, it was almost inevitable that tablets would become ubiquitous the path for wearables is a lot less clear," Russell Feldman, director of digital, media and telecoms at YouGov said.

Those with wearables think it's important to have more than one device, illustrated by the fact that a quarter of people using a smartwatch or related gadget are using more than one while only 16 per cent of tablet owners had more than one at the same stage after launch.

"The good news is that wearables are considerably cheaper than the first tablets meaning that they are better suited to speculative purchases or being given as gifts. This is shown by the fact that so many wearable owners buy further devices as newer models with better features emerge safe in the knowledge it will not break the bank," Feldman added.

He explained that the majority of the wearables on the market are fitness devices rather than smartwatches and this means the market is somewhat skewed towards those who partake in exercise on a regular basis.

"It is increasingly apparent that the wearables industry needs to use marketing and create user cases to help increase penetration. This needs to come from manufacturers, retailers, operators, fitness centres as well as other interested parties."

The Apple Watch has come up trumps in IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker report, shipping 3.6 million smart watches in the second quarter of 2015.

Although FitBit topped the manufacturer charts with 24.3 per cent of the market share, Apple was hot on the company's tail with 19.9 per cent of the share. Xiaomi also freshly entered the charts with 17.1 per cent of the wearables market, just behind Apple, while the fourth place contender was Garmin, with less than a four per cent share.

IDC said this demonstrates the power that Apple has in the technology market, whatever new innovations it launches.

"Anytime Apple enters a new market, not only does it draw attention to itself, but to the market as a whole," noted Ramon Llamas, research manager for IDC's Wearables team. "Its participation benefits multiple players and platforms within the wearables ecosystem, and ultimately drives total volumes higher."

He explained how Apple forces other technology vendors to re-think about their products and innovate in order to stay competitive.

"Fairly or not, Apple will become the stick against which other wearables are measured, and competing vendors need to stay current or ahead of Apple. Now that Apple is officially a part of the wearables market, everyone will be watching to see what other wearable devices it decides to launch, such as smart glasses or hearables," he continued.

The report also revealed a very definite divide between smart wearables such as the Apple Watch and Samsung's range of wearables that can run third-party apps and those that only work with one application, such as fitness bands.

Those producing basic wearables will need to compete with the smart wearables, while keeping their price points low to be attractive to consumers.

Buried in Google's Alphabet announcment was a reminder that the company's life sciences division is still working on its disposable glucose-monitoring wearables, now partnered with DexCom.

Kevin Sayer, president and chief executive officer of DexCom, said: "This partnership has the potential to change the face of diabetes technology forever. Working together, we believe we can introduce products that will move us beyond our core Type 1 business to become the standard of care for all people living with diabetes.

The wearables will be disposable, cheap and bandaged-sized, feeding actionable, real-time data back to the cloud.

"We're committed to developing new technologies that will help move health care from reactive to proactive," said Andrew Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Google. "This collaboration is another step towards expanding monitoring options and making it easier for people with diabetes to proactively manage their health."

Last year, it was reported that smart contact lenses for diabetes sufferers and glasses wearers were being developed by Google and Swiss medical firm Novartis.

The smart lenses, first revealed in January 2014, use sensors that measure glucose levels present in tears, then transmit this data back to the wearer's smartphone.

This would potentially mean diabetics could manage their health via the lenses, rather than through regular blood tests.

Earlier, project co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz wrote on the Google blog: "We're also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we're exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds."

The lenses sync with a smartphone app that then informs them and their doctor of their glucose levels, alerting them to danger sooner than a blood test could.

Novartis has agreed to license and commercialise Google's smart lenses, paving the way for them to go on general release in the future.

As well as helping diabetes sufferers, Novartis has unveiled hopes to develop lenses for those with impaired vision, with smart lenses developed to "restore the eye's natural autofocus on near objects."

This could result in permanent, "intraocular lenses," that restore vision for people such as the elderly, while also providing an alternative to ordinary disposable contact lenses.

The contact lenses were an invention from Google X, the company's research and development lab, following the much-discussed Google Glass and self-driving cars.

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, said: "Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturisation of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people. We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true."

Martha Lane Fox, the founder of Lastminute.com, is to examine how the NHS can boost adoption of digital technology among patients.

The former government digital champion was asked by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to develop a set of proposals ensuring take-up of technology ranging from wearables to Wi-Fi will succeed among patients.

Hunt said: "If we are to embrace the potential for technology to shift power to patients, we need patients to be willing and able to harness that technology. Digital inclusion is as vital in healthcare as everywhere else - not least because some of the greatest impacts of new technology in health is with the most vulnerable patients.

"I have therefore asked Martha Lane Fox to develop some practical proposals for the NHS National Information Board before the end of the year as to how we can increase take-up of new digital innovations in health by those who will benefit from them the most."

Lane Fox, who holds the title of the Baroness of Soho, responded on Twitter to say she was looking forward to it, adding "massive gains for vulnerable patients + frontline staff I think".

Her proposals will be taken on by the National Information Board (NIB), as it works to boost digital inclusion as part of its Personalised Health and Care 2020 programme.

NHS England believes technology could make up a third of a 22 billion budget shortfall projected for 2020.

NIB will look into introducing Wi-Fi across the entire NHS estate for doctors, nurses, staff and patients, while wearables could catch symptoms in people with diabetes.

However, the NHS has also experienced problems in its attempts to introduce technology to patients care.data, a scheme to share patients' medical records among GP surgeries around the country lacks public trust.

Despite the service being trialled in GP surgeries around the country, a government watchdog recently listed it as one of 20 projects deemed to be failing in 2014-15.

Nevertheless, NIB chief and NHS England's director for patients and information, Tim Kelsey, welcomed Lane Fox's involvement.

He said: "The NIB really looks forward to working with Martha on how best to support patients and citizens take up new digital innovations in health and care.

"Everybody who wants to take advantage of new opportunities offered by technology to improve their health and wellbeing - and to support themselves when they are ill - must be able to do so."

Casio is planning to join Samsung, Apple and others in the smartwatch market, with a device set for release in early 2016 for the US and Japan.

The watch, as yet unnamed, will be priced similarly to the Apple Watch Sport (starting at $349), according to the Wall Street Journal (via Wired), and will be the Japanese watchmaker's first smartwatch.

Kazuhiro Kashio, Casio's president, said: "We are trying to bring our smartwatch to a level of watch perfection: a device that won't break easily, is simple to put on and feels good to wear."

Kashio, however, acknowledges some of the challenges that smartwatches face in terms of user adoption and an increasingly crowded market, adding: "I don't think the smartwatch will be an instant success but we want it to grow in the long term."

The watch has been in development for four years, WSJ's report states, with various prototypes thrown out before the final device was ready for release.

The smartwatch market has been through many changes, with a move towards fashion-focused models with the Apple Watch and other luxury brands such as Intel's MICA and Tag Heuer's high-end device.

Much like Casio's traditional wristwatch, its forthcoming tech wearable appears to be focusing on simplicity, with the watch also suitable for outdoor sports.

You could argue that Casio was actually one of the first entrants into the smartwatch arena with its Casio Calculator watch that allowed users to change TV channels, and G-Shock models with bluetooth functionality.

Google has announced a new health-tracking wearable that could be prescribed to patients based on need.

The device, which will likely not be available to consumers, was developed by the company's research division, Google X, and measures the user's pulse, heart rhythm, skin temperature and other information about their environment such as light and noise levels.

Andy Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Google, told Bloomberg: "Our intended use is for this to become a medical device that's prescribed to patients or used for clinical trials.

"I envision a day, in 20 or 30 years, where physicians give it to all patients," he added. "Prevention means all the time."

Conrad's statement rules out the wearable being generally available to consumers in the near future, though many of its features are similar to those offered by Android Wear.

Google will test the device with academics and drugmakers in the coming months, revealed Google spokeswoman Jacquelyn Miller, with the eventual aim of using it in clinical trials and drug tests.

Gathering accurate results that can be used for these trials has previously been hard achieve, Kara Dennis, managing director of mobile health at Medidata, said.

"Historically, doctors do everything patients just need to turn up at the trial site," Dennis said. "Now, we're asking patients to take on meaningful responsibility in gathering information."

Other projects the Google X division has been tasked with are driverless cars and delivery drones. In the healthcare sector, a smart contact lens design was also revealed last year. The lenses, designed with diabetes sufferers in mind, use sensors to measure glucose levels in tears, transmitting results back to a smartphone.

NHS England will use technology to help plug a 22 billion funding shortfall, according to its national director for patients and information.

Tim Kelsey believes smarter use of data, upgraded IT and new models of care could save as much as a third of the budget gap predicted to exist by 2020.

"Technology has a hugely important role to play in delivering the health service's productivity challenge," he said.

"Our focus needs to be on how we are going to make the most of this opportunity to solving one of the greatest problems man has ever faced caring for a growing and ageing population."

Patients will have access to their entire health records online by 2018, under plans to harness technology in the NHS.

This will build on the 97 per cent of surgeries that allow people to order repeat prescriptions, view partial health records, and book appointments online the last of which could save 160 million in wasted time caused by missed appointments.

As more services go to the web, people would use the NHS Choices website as a "digital front door" for online services like speaking to their doctor online or via a video link.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health's National Information Board will explore the potential for turning the entire NHS estate into a free Wi-Fi zone.

This would free up administrative burdens on doctors and nurses to spend more time with patients, the NHS believes.

It would also open up the possibility of introducing wearables to monitor patients in hospital.

Benefits could include cutting down on the fifth of diabetes patients who experience hypoglycemic episodes while in care, by catching the early-warning signs.

Kelsey added: "We are in the middle of finding out how man and science can work in harmony through the use of what is called artificial intelligence.

"We have made real progress in openness and transparency and access to data. For the first time last year we published the data of individual surgeons in 12 different specialities. And just two years ago we launched the Friends and Family Test and since then we have received 8.5 million pieces of feedback."

However, the NHS is also experiencing setbacks in its deployment of technology, following the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) admitting the newly-launched e-Referral service had 33 problems.

The service has since been taken offline.

Michael Allen, the EMEA solutions VP for application performance monitoring firm, Dynatrace, said the launch should have been delayed.

"It is much more expensive to fix application problems in the field, rather than in the testing environment not to mention creating more frustration for customers and embarrassment for the organisations responsible," he said.

Google Glass could be set for a resurgence, with a whole family of products in tow despite its high-profile failure to revolutionise wearable tech.

A job posting on Google's website, first spotted by , lists ads for several positions opening up at the company Audio Hardware Manager; Human Factors Designer; RF Systems Engineer; Hardware Automation Engineer which some believe point to some new products in the Glass range.

Production and sales of Google Glass were halted back in February, but the company denied the commonly-held perception that it was because the headset had been deemed a failure.

In a blog post announcing the pause in Google Glass' journey back in January, the company wrote: "We still have some work to do, but now we're ready to put on our big kid shoes and learn to run."

"Early Glass efforts have broken ground and allowed us to learn what's important to consumers and enterprises alike," Tony Fadell, who was said to be co-running the new launch along with Ivy Ross, also said.

"I'm excited to be working with Ivy to provide direction and support as she leads the team and we work together to integrate those learnings into future products."

Now, it seems as if the next step includes many more products to accompany the much-maligned device.

It's possible that this will take the form of a range of different wearables, possibly with an eye on recently-successful products such as the Apple Watch.

In the ads, the new Google Glass team is described as "a world-class team focused on the cutting edge of hardware, software and industrial design. It is charged with pioneering, developing, building and launching smart eyewear and other related products in line with Google's ambitious and visionary objectives."

The company previously hinted that Glass would be targeted more towards enterprise customers than consumers upon its return, but whether this holds true remains to be seen.

The first killer usecase for wearables will appear on Apple Watch, Citrix CEO Mark Templeton has claimed.

Speaking at a press Q&A at the company's annual Citrix Synergy conference in Orlando, Templeton said: "My early assessment is that there are sparse, small usecases, but not one killer usecase. I think we will get to a stage where there are a few killer usecases that could be personal, [but] we think a lot [will be] in business computing, for example ... maybe the watch is an incredible authentication device."

Templeton said that everyone is "dabbling [and] trying to find what the compelling usecases are". Indeed, Citrix is included in these "dabblers", having produced one app each on Android Wear and Apple Watch, GoToMeeting and SlideStream respectively.

However, Templeton believes Apple Watch will be the platform where a clear usecase for wearables will appear.

"I put Apple in the driving seat simply because developing apps for [Apple Watch] is so simple and they will get more experimentation faster than anyone else in the market, I think," said Templeton. This in turn leads to a greater probability of a clear reason to buy appearing on that platform rather than a rival's as "whoever gets the most experimentation will find out where those usecases are".

Additionally, despite only having recently come out, Apple Watch is more commonplace than Android Wear devices, according to Templeton.

"I've got every single version of an Android wear watch and wherever I went I was the only one, that's not the case with Apple Watch," he said.

"[Developers] will learn from that and the consumers will take them there," he said.

The launch of the Samsung Gear A smartwatch has been announced on its developer website, sporting a teaser image and tagline: "Get ready for the next Gear."

The announcement was spotted first by Pocket Lint, and confirms previous rumours that the watch would have a round face.

More details of the Samsung's next smartwatch release indicate that the device will go up against other premium offerings such as the Apple Watch.

The watch was previously known as Orbis', reports SamMobile, but has now been announced as the Samsung Gear A. It will be available in two versions, according to the site, with one limited to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and the other sporting 3G and calling support.

In terms of design, its shape is in line with the Moto 360 and G Watch R, but is a departure from its own rectangular Gear S.

There will be a bezel ring and power button on the top of the watch, and users will swipe down on the homescreen to access a drop-down menu. Swiping up will open the menu of recent apps, with the power button closing it down again.

Other features include rejecting a phone call, a music player, an alarm, clocks, find my device' and weather.

Samsung's previous smartwatch efforts have not been greeted with much enthusiasm, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak calling the Galaxy Gear "worthless" last summer.

"I want my smartphone here, but I really want the whole thing... I don't want just a little Bluetooth connection to the smartphone in my pocket because then it's just an intermediary, an extra thing I buy to get what I already have and have to carry anyway," he said.

Our own head-to-head review of the Samsung Gear S and Moto 360 sided with the latter on price, design, compatibility and comfort.

OPINION:The Apple Watch is the biggest tech news of 2015. With the world at large seemingly obsessed with Tim Cook's wearable brainchild, I figured it was about time I got myself down to the Apple Store to try it out. And so, it was with my smartwatch expert' hat on that I embarked upon my quest to the Regent Street branch of the Apple empire.

When I arrived at 9.30am, I was greeted at the door, asked which product I was interested in, and then told they don't open until 10.00am unless you have an appointment. At this point, the store was virtually empty, with just a handful of people in conversation with the staff.

Nevertheless, off I duly trundled to get a cup of coffee and wait for 10.00am to roll round. After I'd killed half-an-hour in Pret, I went back to the store and proceeded to faff around with the demo models for a bit.

Although it was a weekday morning, the store was by now fairly busy, with various people drifting around, gawping at the Watches. After almost 20 minutes of mucking about with (and taking copious photos of) the watch, an Apple employee materialised at my elbow and asked if I was interested in it.

When I replied that "Yes, I was," I was taken and offered one to try on. Unfortunately, the models you can actually wear are all locked in demonstration mode meaning they'll cycle through a series of functions, but they'll not be taking orders from you, thank you very much.

Apple Watch experience - Design

The actual wearable ones are purely for aesthetic appreciation. For many people, though, that's likely to be a key component, and I overheard several people cooing aver how pretty they were.

It has to be said that it's a gorgeous bit of kit. The design looks sleek, professional and attractive, and it's got that particular Apple flair to it. The screen's equally stunning. The curved sapphire glass display (used in all but the sport models) is bright, clear and sharp as anything.

Unfortunately, it's also ridiculously teeny, measuring just 42mm for the larger variant. It's usable, but just barely. The smaller 38mm version is even worse. Sausage-fingered though I am, I'd struggle to see anyone using it effectively.

Both versions also have big black borders of dead space round the edges of the watch face. They mar the look of it quite a bit, especially compared to rival devices that are getting closer and closer to totally edgeless displays.

On top of that, it's a lot bulkier than you'd think. This is thanks largely to the optical heart-rate monitor located on the underside of the watch, which bulges out from the main body. The end result is a watch that, while not unreasonably chunky, still doesn't lie as snugly on your wrist as might have hoped.

In terms of straps, there are a wide variety on offer depending on personal taste. There are traditional leather straps for the sensible, plastic sports straps for the tacky, and the Milanese loop' style fasteners for the slightly unhinged.

That last one has caught the most attention, partly because of how unusual it is. Comprised of a link bracelet not unlike chainmail, it feels flimsy and insecure. It's magnetically fastened as well, so the slightest flex of your wrist is liable to annoyingly loosen it.

Thankfully, changing straps is easy, if you don't mind paying Apple an exorbitant premium for the privilege. A button on the underside releases the straps, which then slide out of their groove in the side, ready to be replaced.

Apple Watch experience - Functionality

Although it's nice to see how they look in the flesh, it's the functionality that really counts. If you want to get a sense of what it's actually like to use one, you'll have to try out one of the display models, all of which are firmly bolted into a big white block.

Featuring a touchscreen display that's linked to the watch, the unit gives you more information about whatever app you're currently on, including operating instructions. It also surprise, surprise shows a catalogue of all the different Apple Watches and their respective price.

Although demonstration models of the watches are plentiful, what they can actually do is extremely limited. The apps and interactions are pretty minimal, with the standard suite of stock Apple tools each featuring a few example functions.

The communication software email, SMS and the watch-exclusive quick-messaging app was all semi-useless without the ability to actually talk to anyone. Even so, the watch messaging, with taps, sketches and vaguely creepy heartbeat messages, was a frustrating and finicky exercise in why bother?'

Navigating the photos app was among the highlights, surprisingly. All your pictures are presented as a big grid, with the digital crown used to zoom in for a better look. It's a great system for navigation, especially in conjunction with regular swipes.

It can also be used to launch apps. The home screen has all your watch apps laid out in a honeycomb pattern, with the crown used to zoom in and open them. However, this is offset by the fact that manual touch selection is an absolute nightmare. The app icons are teeny-tiny, and I found myself repeatedly opening the wrong thing by mistake.

I had a little play around with Siri as well, who seemed to be on decent form, along with with the maps. Here I was a little let down; although navigating the map is fairly simple thanks to the digital crown's simple zooming function, the tiny screen meant that trying to actually find anything was akin to an aerial game of blind man's bluff'.

The demonstration models loaded pretty much all data and apps smoothly and swiftly, but I suspect that's because they're embedded in the aforementioned iSlab.

In addition to the touchscreen, it almost certainly contains the iPhone components powering most of the watch's functions, thus negating the long loading times caused by communication delays between watch and phone.

Apple Watch - Taptic Engine and Force Touch

One of the most disappointing things about my visit was that, as the functional watches were bolted down, I couldn't really try out the Taptic Engine'. Much vaunted by Apple, this is the watch's feedback system, which (supposedly) vibrates in a way that's actually like someone tapping you on the wrist.

It seems cool, and does somehow feel a little more right than standard vibration. However, it's not as unique as it's been made out to be, and there's not enough to differentiate it from the other vibration alerts out there, despite the customisable patterns.

The other innovation devised for the Apple Watch is Force Touch. This, by contrast, is pretty neat, and it works fantastically. In addition to run-of-the-mill taps and long-presses, the watch can also register a firm press, allowing a new set of inputs and functions.

This has already been incorporated into the new MacBook to much acclaim, and when it inevitably reaches the iPhone, it could be a serious game-changer. Here, however, it looks sadly underused. Beyond swapping between different app tasks, there's not a lot of functionality on show.

Apple Watch experience - verdict

One of the main problems with the in-store Apple Watch experience is the fact that the staff know roughly as much about the products as any punter can find out from Google. It's not their fault, though the simple fact is that Apple hasn't deigned to release the actual devices to stores yet, so staff are trying to sell you these things, effectively, sight unseen.

Because they haven't actually used them, Apple Store employees' usual level of personal experience and expertise (such as it is) just isn't there. Instead, they're half-heartedly regurgitating the marketing spiel Cupertino's been pushing, and visibly squirm when asked any kind of in-depth questions about the functionality.

They also have less than no idea when they'll be available - one staff member said that she didn't expect pre-order customers to get their watches till mid-summer, with in-store stock potentially arriving as late as next year.

According to my designated Apple Minion, the majority of Apple Watch sales have so far been online pre-orders, who only then came in to actually try out the watch for themselves. While you can place in-store pre-orders, apparently virtually no-one has done so.

Given my experience with it, I'm not hugely surprised either. Other tech, like the iPhone or the MacBook Air, has the immediate wow factor' when you try it in the Apple Store. It's essentially fully-functional, and you instantly get a sense of what it would be like to own one, and how it could improve your day-to-day life.

With the Apple Watch, that's not as present. It's possibly due to the type of device the fact that it has to pair with an iPhone to properly work but it still feels like it isn't an inherently exciting product.

It's also currently suffering from a real lack of apps. When pressed for her favourite upcoming watch apps, my iHelper could only come up with a third-party fitness tracker and a CityMapper port. For the Apple Watch to really justify its ridiculous price, it's going to need something a bit better than that.

By and large, Cupertino's debut wearable is a prime example of technology that's going to pave the way for greatness. As it stands, the Apple Watch is outdone by its Android rivals in most areas, but it has undeniable potential. Whether it realises it before the public lose interest, however, remains to be seen.

Smartwatches - they're the aspect of the wearable revolution that everyone seems to have fallen most in love with. The Apple Watch has been a hot topic since it was announced in September last year, and with wearable and IoT platforms continuing to develop, it seems like a trend that's set to continue.

Though primarily marketed as high-end consumer tech, many people in the enterprise community are starting to look at smartwatches as a way to optimise their workflow. By effectively managing communications, calendar details and personal fitness without constantly checking a smartphone, wearable devices can help busy professionals to streamline their workday.

For those looking to enter the world of wearables, we've collected the five best enterprise smartwatches, and after some thorough testing, we've come up with a winner. But first, let's examine which key areas any good smartwatch needs to focus on.

Battery

Battery life is a crucial aspect of any tech. Smartwatches in particular have been criticised for the fact that most need to be charged on roughly a daily basis. Balancing a small, comfortable form-factor with battery-intensive operations is a tricky feat to pull off, and there are some that do it better than others. However, as a general benchmark, most smartwatches will do somewhere in the region of two days before giving up the ghost.

Operating system

Much like with smartphones, Android is currently dominating the wearables market through sheer force of numbers. The vast majority of smartwatches sport Google's Android Wear OS, although there are a few outliers with their own proprietary software, in addition to the forthcoming Apple Watch.

Android Wear is Google's stab at the burgeoning Smartwatch market. It's not quite perfect, and it's lacking the killer functionality that will drive widespread adoption, but it's still a pretty nifty operating system.

Those that regularly use Android's Google Now service will feel pretty quickly at home Android Wear operates on the same cards' system, flashing up tiles with relevant notifications as they happen. These primarily consist of push notifications from Facebook, emails, texts and the like, but it will also show you things like weather forecasts and fitness information.

App integration

One of the more useful features is the integration of the OK Google' voice command technology. Not only does it let you search the web from your smartwatch, you can also dictate commands to your smartphone. Through this, you can reply to messages, get directions and set personal reminders, among other tasks.

The feature-set is currently slightly limited by the range of supported and purpose-built apps for the platform. At present, there's only a handful that have been optimised for the smaller screen and control mechanics of Android Wear, but that's likely to change as wearable technology increases in popularity.

How useful you find smartwatches in general will relate directly to how busy you are on a day-to-day basis. Those that do a lot of communicating via messaging apps or have to juggle multiple appointments on a regular basis, for example, will probably find it incredibly handy, as will those that like to run or cycle.

Those that do a lot of intensive web-browsing or emailing, however, may want to stick to a traditional smartphone. The small screen and dictation-based response system are ill-suited to these tasks, and can often be frustrating on a smartwatch.

Weight and feel

We have to confess, we went into this as people that didn't regularly wear a watch. As such, it took a little while to get used to having something constantly on our wrist. For comparison, however, we also spent a few day with a regular' Ben Sherman watch, in order to check how much of a gulf there actually is between the two weights.

Contrary to our expectations, there's actually not as much of a difference as we thought. All of the watches we tested felt reasonably comfortable, and after a while, you'll barely notice they're there. People that habitually wear a watch are likely to adjust almost immediately.

Price

Almost all of the smartwatches currently on the market are hovering somewhere around the 200 price-point. This is likely to be the most off-putting factor for those still on the fence about wearables; it's a pretty big chunk of change for something that's essentially a peripheral for your existing smartphone.

However, deals can be had with some smart shopping, and you can pick up earlier, less well-equipped alternatives to the products in this list for around 100. One thing that continues to baffle us though is the lack of bundle deals available.

All but one of the companies in this round-up manufacture smartphones and tablets as well as wearables, and it would seem like offering all three as a package deal is an obvious move. Sadly, while watch and smartphone deals occasionally crop up, we can't seem to find any evidence of companies offering the full set.

Specs

There's still some debate regarding smartwatch specs. Some say that they should be as high-end as possible without being extortionately expensive, whilst others are happy to sacrifice a little performance for a smaller form-factor and lower price-point.

However, having said that, the age of a smartwatch's components doesn't make as much of a speed difference as you might initially think. Functionally, the performance difference between these watches is measured in milliseconds, and you're unlikely to be disappointed by any in that regard.

LG G Watch R

LG has been in the smartwatch game for a while. The original G watch was a solid entry to the market, going up primarily against Samsung's Gear range. However, LG has now stepped up its game, eschewing the common square design in favour of a more traditional round construction. In doing so, they've produced one of the most desirable watches on the market.

LG G Watch R -Design

The design of the G Watch R is really rather attractive. For a start, it's one of the few smartwatches with a round, rather than square, face, and it's built to look remarkably similar to a traditional diver's watch. It's got big, bezeled edges, with dial markings going around the inside, and what would be a winding knob now serves as a button for turning the screen on and off.

The build quality is also pretty excellent, despite its plastic construction. The body sports a brushed-aluminium effect which gives it a nice touch of class, and definitely puts it on the upper end of the wearable quality spectrum.

LG G Watch R - Battery

The G Watch R charges through a magnetic USB dock. It's not the most stable method in the world, but it's also a lot more convenient than a standard cable. In terms of battery life, it's up there with the best of them a little over two days of mixed use from a full charge.

LG G Watch R -Smoothness and usability

The G Watch R is, on the whole, very quick indeed, but occasionally has a very slight lag when performing tasks or swiping between cards. It's not overly problematic, but it's a little frustrating when in a hurry. What's a bit more of a pain in that the raised bezels around the face of the watch can often make the swipe-based controls tricky and imprecise, especially with larger fingers. Dictation, however, makes up for that. If you can get over feeling the tiniest bit daft, Google Now's voice command functionality will perform perfectly well.

LG G Watch R -Weight and feel

The G Watch R is definitely one of the bulkiest smartwatches around, and the 1.1cm height may see it snagging on sleeves and the like. Considering the chunkier style it's going for, it's not a huge problem, but we'd have preferred a few millimetres shaved off it regardless. Weight-wise, the G Watch R is definitely noticeable on your wrist, but not tediously so - It's actually a little lighter than many normal watches.

LG G Watch R -Price

At a little over 200, it's not pocket change, but it's also not far off what you'll be paying for rivals. It's also leagues cheaper than a mid-range Tag Hueur or Omega.

LG G Watch R -Display

The G Watch R's 1.3in P-OLED display is nice and bright, with good contrast and a colour gamut that really pops. It's also easily readable at a glance, even in direct sunlight. The circular face, while gorgeous, truncates notifications and text a little, but that's a trade between form and function that in this case, we're happy to make.

LG G Watch R -Features

One of the killer features for fitness buffs is likely to be the G Watch R's in-built heart-rate monitor, although we found that it could be a little selective about whether or not it would actually read our pulse. A few times, we were worried that we might be having a Sixth Sense-style crisis.

Its IP67 rating also means that the G Watch R is water resistant to a depth of 1m, which is a good selling point for anything, but pretty crucial for wearables. The vibration is a little weak, however - we wouldn't advise relying on the vibrating alarm if you're a heavy sleeper, and sufferers of phantom vibration are going to find themselves compulsively checking for missed notifications.

LG G Watch R -Verdict

Along with the Moto 360, the G Watch R marks the current pinnacle of smartwatch technology. It's mightily impressive, both from a design standpoint and in terms of pure functionality.

Granted, it's slightly more expensive than its stablemates, but it's honestly worth the extra. The display is gorgeous, the build quality equally so, and the design is sophisticated enough that it doesn't immediately scream overly expensive gimmick'.

Sony SmartWatch 3

Sony has been something of a dark horse in the smartwatch race. Its first two smartwatches were really rather good, but flew under the radar for most people, and the Smartband Talk, launched alongside the Smartwatch 3, is equally nifty. With its latest wearable, the company has proved that its ready to enter the big leagues. It's got some issues, and we couldn't honestly say that we're burning to own one, but we like it an awful lot.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Design

The Smartwatch 3 uses a modular design, with a standalone, pop-out core and swappable bands. While the black plastic strap it launched with was pretty cheap-looking, The Smartwatch 3's new metal band is a huge improvement, and looks sleek and professional. The only downside is that you may have to get a few links taken out or put in for it to properly fit.

However, if you get tired of your current watch band, the pop-out system means that you can switch bands at will with maximum ease. One major bugbear we had with it is that the steel-link version absolutely refused to lie flat, which makes it awkward to check when it's not physically on your wrist.

Sony Smartwatch 3 - Battery

One thing that immediately annoyed us about the Smartwatch 3 is that charging is incredibly finicky. The MicroUSB port is located underneath a fiddly flap on the back, which is very difficult to access in the steel-band edition without popping out the core. It's also difficult to get the cable all the way in securely, due to the flap getting in the way.

Mixed use yielded over two days of battery life, which is a good result for a current-gen smartwatch, and largely due to the transflective screen. It's also got an ambient light sensor to adjust the backlight based on the user's surrounding, which should help more demanding users eke out a bit more juice.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Smoothness and usability

Navigation on the Smartwatch 3 is pretty slick, but the small screen means it's occasionally a little tricky to be precise. It also means a lot of scrolling when dealing with long lists or notifications, which can be tedious.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Weight and feel

The pop-out core design means it's bulkier than it could otherwise be, and the depth feels a little out of place compared to the sleekness of the design. It's not overly heavy, but a plastic strap will feel lighter than metal if it becomes a problem. It feels a lot like wearing an old-school Timex or Casio, except significantly larger.

Sony Smartwatch 3 - Price

The basic version of the Smartwatch 3 can be found for around 130, which gives it a significant price advantage over competitors. Opt for the metal-banded version, however, and you're looking at a hair under 200, which is a bit of a steep jump purely for a different strap.

The basic version of the Smartwatch 3 can be found for around 130, which gives it a significant price advantage over competitors. Opt for the metal-banded version, however, and you're looking at a hair under 200, which is a bit of a steep jump purely for a different strap.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Display

The square face makes notifications and cards easier to read, but doesn't look quite as nice as round displays, especially when trying to use more traditional watchfaces due to the large amount of dead space. Although brightness is generally good, the resolution means text appears a lot smaller than some we tried.

Emails also have a tendency to become a garbled mess on such a small screen, especially when they've got signature or HTML elements included. The transflective LCD screen doesn't really pop in the same way as its P-OLED counterparts either, which makes it feel a little washed-out.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Features

With the range of real-world use cases for smartwatches still fairly limited, Sony are billing their offering largely as a fitness companion. The watch's GPS tracker means that it can be used in conjunction with apps like Runkeeper or Sony's own Lifelog software to track workouts and bike rides.

However, this application is bafflingly limited by its lack of a heart monitor, which is a fairly egregious oversight. The integration with Lifelog could also be better, considering it's a flagship device you can't set goals via the watch, and the activity data you can view is comparatively basic.

As with Sony's other device lines, it features a better IP rating than most, with the IP68 designation meaning it'll be more than happy when submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It's also got NFC capability, meaning it can be used for convenient, wrist-based payments.

Sony Smartwatch 3 -Verdict

The Smartwatch 3 is what we imagine an old person might produce when asked to draw a smartwatch. That's not a bad thing it just lacks a little imagination and out-the-box thinking.

It's still a damn good device, however. The transflective screen works fantastically for outdoor use, it's nicely comfortable, and the NFC is a great touch. The fact that you can pick it up for 130 makes it a steal too, if you don't mind the grotty-looking black rubber strap. Fashionistas, however, are advised to look elsewhere.

Motorola Moto 360

The Moto 360 has gained a lot of attention for its design, and rightly so. Although it's been jokingly dubbed the Moto 270 for its not-quite-circular face, it's a very pretty smartwatch, with a lot of cool features under the hood. If the Moto 360 represents the way smartwatches are heading in the future, we'll be very happy indeed.

Motorola Moto 360 -Design

The Moto 360 is gorgeous. With a brushed stainless steel body surrounding the circular face and pleasingly chamfered edges around the very nearly edgeless display, it's a work of uncluttered, minimalist beauty.

Whether you prefer it to the comparatively almost overdesigned G Watch R is likely to be a matter of taste, but either way it's hard to argue that round faces make for the best-looking smartwatches around.

Motorola Moto 360 - Battery

The Moto 360, excitingly, uses the Qi wireless charging standard that many manufacturers are adopting. Charging is fast, easy, and the Qi standard means that if you don't like Motorola's bundled charging dock, you can simply pop it on a third-party charging pad at night. The battery life wasn't as great as its main rival the G Watch R, but it still managed a little over a full 24 hours. Not stellar, then, but not quite as dire as it could be.

Motorola Moto 360 -Smoothness and usability

Swiping is generally crisp and responsive, although we did notice some slightly spotty performance with regard to Bluetooth phone connection. The large, borderless screen also makes it easy to control accurately, unlike the G Watch R.

Motorola Moto 360 -Weight and feel

The Moto 360 is astonishingly light, and wearing it feels comfortable and natural. Admittedly, we did notice a very slight tendency toward overheating, but most of the time, users won't even notice it's there.

Oddly, it's almost the same height as the G Watch R, but the latter's protruding bezels make the 360 feel much slimmer by comparison.

Motorola Moto 360 -App integration

Motorola have their own suite of fitness apps and watch faces that allow limited customisation without having to jump through third-party hoops, which is nice. It does lack a little functionality with regard to prioritising which apps perform which commands, however.

Motorola Moto 360 -Price

Again, expect to pay around 200 for the Moto 360. However, careful shoppers will undoubtedly be able to find better deals as the device continues to age.

Motorola Moto 360 -Display

The Moto 360's IPS display is bright, clear and eminently readable, helped to no end by its sizable 1.56in diameter the largest screen we tested. It's a joy to look at, and the colour capacity will make vibrant watch faces really stand out.

Unfortunately, it loses points for the black bar at the bottom of the screen, which houses the device's ambient light sensor, as well as somewhat contradicting its name. It doesn't help the circular face's slight problem with truncating notifications, and it's guaranteed to bug the hell out of some people.

Motorola Moto 360 -Features

As is rapidly becoming standard for smartwatches, the Moto 360 is IP67 rated for 30-minute, 1m water immersion. It's also got a built-in heart monitor, which works in conjunction with Motorola's health and fitness apps, as well as others.

The vibration is also plenty strong you're unlikely to mistake a notification for anything else, which was a slight problem with others.

Motorola Moto 360 -Verdict

The Moto 360 is one of the most appealing smartwatches out there. This could have been achieved purely by dint of its stunning circular design, but thankfully, it's also backed up with some of the most impressive functionality we've seen to date. It's got a few issues, the battery life among them, but overall it's a strong contender for the smartwatch crown.

Asus ZenWatch

Asus, generally known for its mid-market laptops and tablets, have decided to make their debut into the smartwatch world with the ZenWatch, and we have to say, it's a promising start. It's let down a little in some areas, but a few wobbles notwithstanding, it's a lot stronger than we would have expected.

Asus ZenWatch -Design

The ever so slightly curved body is reasonably understated, with a copper-coloured inlay around the sides and few unnecessary flourishes. We have to say, it's fairly attractive in an almost vintage way. The interchangeable 22mm strap also means that you can customise the band to suit your own tastes.

Asus ZenWatch - Battery

While the ZenWatch's induction-charged battery is more or less adequate, it's by no means anything to write home about. Judicious use of screen-dimming and lower brightnesses will see it last around a day and a half, but don't expect it to last more than a full work day with heavy use.

Asus ZenWatch -Smoothness and usability

Operations on the ZenWatch are faster and smoother than we were expecting - it's actually pretty nippy. Although it does suffer from precision issues brought about by its smaller screen.

Asus ZenWatch -Weight and feel

We found the ZenWatch totally comfortable, with the default band easily adjustable in terms of size. It's not the slimmest we saw, but it's thin and sleek enough that it's not going to be at all obtrusive.

Asus ZenWatch -App integration

Asus has an own-brand fitness app for those looking to track their steps throughout the day, but it's a little limited. It also comes with Jawbone's Up app, however, which is more comprehensive. One interesting feature of Asus's software is the supposed ability to measure your relaxation level along with your heart rate, but since it just gives an uncontextualised number, this is somewhat less than useful.

Asus ZenWatch -Price

Like most of its competitors, the ZenWatch is sticking with a price of roughly 200. However, considering it hasn't really got anything to make it stand out from the herd, we'd be hard-pressed to recommend it over similarly-priced rivals.

Asus ZenWatch -Display

The ZenWatch's quare screen suffers from the same size+shape-related problems as the SmartWatch 3 the dead space around the screen spoils the device's otherwise well-designed look, and navigation can be tricky for the ham-fisted among us. The ZenWatch can't match P-OLED rivals for brightness, but the colours are a lot less washed-out than the Sony Smartwatch 3, and overall it's pretty respectable.

Asus ZenWatch -Verdict

The Asus ZenWatch can't really be said to do anything wrong; it's competent on pretty much every level. However, that's pretty much the most positive thing we can find to say about it. You're unlikely to be disappointed with the ZenWatch, but equally, we highly doubt anyone will be overly wowed with it, especially when its superior competitors cost around the same price.

Pebble Steel

Calling the Pebble Steel a smartwatch seems a little disingenuous. It's got a battery of smart features of course, but looking at the blocky, black-and-white display, it looks more like something that'd be cutting-edge circa 1998. That being said, however, it's got buckets of character, and we can't help but love it.

Pebble Steel -Design

The Pebble Steel sports what is, in our eyes, a very attractive square design, not all that different from a high-end digital watch. Sure, it's a bit angular, and the buttons are on the chunky side, but it's got a certain almost vintage mystique to it. While the original Pebble features interchangeable bands via the standard 22mm strap fitting, the Steel currently only offers leather or metal options. However, both look rather effortlessly elegant, so it's hardly a problem.

Pebble Steel - Battery

Battery's one of the big features that the Pebble Steel has on its side. Unlike its power-hungry rivals, the Pebble Steel can comfortably last around a week from a full charge, thanks largely to a black and white screen and low-power internals. Charging is via a proprietary magnetic induction cable, which can be a little tricky to attach securely, but once it's on, it feels fairly stable.

Pebble Steel -OS

Pebble's smartwatches use a custom OS, which works across both Android and iOS no Windows Phone support as yet, unfortunately. It pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth connection and a companion app, which also houses a storefront for apps and watchfaces. While neither are as sophisticated as Android Wear's equivalents, there are nonetheless a fair few useful apps, as well as some charming watchfaces.

Pebble Steel -Smoothness and usability

The Pebble uses Physical buttons rather than touch or voice controls. This actually means it's a lot more straightforward to control than some other devices we tested having an organised menu structure is incredibly helpful after the somewhat alien layout of Android Wear. The rudimentary nature of the Pebble also means that it's incredibly quick to navigate between apps and watchfaces.

Pebble Steel -Weight and feel

Admittedly, the Pebble Steel isn't quite as ergonomically-shaped as some we tried, but it's perfectly comfortable, even when compared with analogue rivals, both in terms of weight and size. We could easily wear it for days at a time, which we wouldn't necessarily say of the others on this list.

Pebble Steel -App integration

All push notifications are supported by the Pebble Steel, with a variety of response actions depending on the type of notification in a similar way to Android Wear. Many third-party apps are also supported, including evernote and runkeeper. However, the watch can only store eight apps and watchfaces at a time, with additional ones needing to be swapped in via smartphone.

Pebble Steel -Price

Available for around 150, the Pebble Steel is one of the cheaper smartwatches on the market. However, it still isn't quite as cheap as we might like, given its comparatively underpowered nature. On the flipside, since it's practically retro already, it's almost certainly going to age a lot better than flashier competitors. A good rule in tech is that the fancier it is, the quicker it becomes embarrassingly obsolete.

Pebble Steel -Display

The square LCD e-paper' display is actually surprisingly effective. Although the Smartwatch 3 and ZenWatch both have larger, higher-resolution screens, the fact that the Pebble is controlled via physical buttons rather than touch means that a small screen isn't a problem. Granted, image quality (such as it is) would embarrass a palm pilot, but sterling contrast ensures text is perfectly clear and readable with a brief glance.

Pebble Steel -Features

A lack of voice command is really rather tedious, particularly when trying to reply to messages. However, the ability to pre-select up to five custom responses to instantly use is a nice touch. The Pebble Steel also has another trick up its sleeve, though. Like more grown-up' timepieces, the Steel is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres, which is a good deal more than its more technologically sophisticated brethren.

Pebble Steel -Verdict

In today's world of QHD screens and touch control, the Pebble Steel is something of an oddity. It's a charming one, however, and there's an awful lot to love about this quasi-throwback.

If you're not bothered about having any of the high-tech frills of Android Wear, then the Pebble Steel will suit you down to the ground. On top of that, the battery life is long enough to put most smartphones to shame.

WINNER -LG G Watch R

We hummed and hawed between this and the Moto 360 for ages. They're both exceptionally capable devices, with distinct and appealing visual flair. However, in the end, the G Watch R just managed to cinch it.

It's got better battery life, which is always a winner. It's also got a faster processor than the 360, which was occasionally a little sluggish, and we think it looks just that little bit more dashing. The Rolex-esque bezels made us feel appealingly Bond-like when using the voice command, and we're suckers for the cool factor'.

Runner-up: Pebble Steel

The astonishing battery life and waterproofing coupled with a feather-light weight make this little beauty a strong contender for our favourite smartwatch ever. I could be a little cheaper, considering the age, but those that splash out will likely be glad they did.

Honourable mentions

Many of these watches could be old news in a few months. LG already has a successorthe G Watch Rin the form of the LG Watch Urbane, while Pebble's suspiciously Familiar Pebble Time is set to ship to its Kickstarter backers in May. Motorola may also have a second-gen Moto 360 on the way, according to a possible slip-up by the company's CEO.

NASA has partnered with San Francisco's Osterhout Design Group for its astronauts to use ODG smart glasses, with new software designed to display instructions when conducting repairs and experiments in space.

The idea behind the software is to provide guides and instructions to astronauts whose hands are otherwise engaged with repairs or experiments, reports SFGate. The introduction of the software would remove the need for printed instruction manuals.

Pete Jameson, chief operating officer for the Osterhout Design Group, said: "It's the ability, in a heads-up display, to give people guidance and information, to give them check lists, directions, and see-through manuals."

The software is going to be tested in an undersea lab in order to simulate the conditions of a space flight. Once the software is integrated into the glasses, the device will be given to the flight programme team to be tested in space conditions.

Sean Carter, strategic partnerships manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, said: "By the fall, we will have astronaut and crew feedback. It's our goal to approach the programmes shortly thereafter. I don't know that the crew will let us wait that long."

According to the report, NASA has been working on the software for more than a decade, developing voice-control systems that can recognise objects in videos. The technology was made easier with the appearance of smartphone chips.

"We knew we were ahead of the game," Carter added. "For us, this is huge today, and it gets even bigger tomorrow. The further we go away from earth, the more we need this."

OPINION: The Wearable Tech Show was held this week in London. Offering a fascinating glimpse into the augmented reality and wearable device market, the show played host to a range of product launches and demonstrations.

Spanning the whole spectrum from consumer products to B2B services, there was a huge diversity of industries covered. Healthcare tech, in particular, had a strong presence even more noteworthy given the recent announcements surrounding Apple's ResearchKit.

For those that couldn't make it to this year's show, we've rounded up some of the best and most interesting highlights.

Aircharge

One of the most interesting displays was a wireless charging area, run by Aircharge. Users visiting the tables and benches equipped with small black plates, could charge their devices, either with built-in wireless charging capabilities, or by using one of Aircharge's dongles.

Using the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi standard (pronounced 'chee'), Aircharge hopes to become the leader in public-space wireless charging, much in the way that The Cloud has with public Wi-Fi. The former also recently released an app to guide users to the nearest of the 3,000-plus Qi-based charging points around the world.

One of the most common complaints about modern devices is an ever-shortening battery life. While Apple has touted the new MacBook as having an 'all-day' charge, if used as expected it might only lasting nine hours. That being the case, public wireless charging points are a miracle of convenience. Indeed, if the technology catches on in the way that Aircharge hopes it will, power problems could be a thing of the past.

Bainisha

Specialising in B2B development and integration, Bainisha makes wearable sensors that promise to track muscle movements with minute accuracy. Placed directly onto the skin, the stretchable, adhesive sensor patches come in various shapes and sizes designed to measure different muscle groups and functions.

Bainisha is one of a growing number of tech start-ups developing wearables specifically for medical markets, and is aiming to track the progress of degenerative muscle diseases. However, while the sensors capture medical-grade levels of detail, the technology also has applications outside of healthcare.

Integration with skin-tight fabrics would still capture enough data to accurately track muscle strain and development for the purpose of workout tracking, according to the firm. The low price-point of the components also mean that a partnership with sportswear firms like Nike or Adidas could provide serious competition to the existing fitness tracker market.

Epson Moverio BT-200

Epson demonstrated an updated version of its Moverio augmented reality smartglasses. Running on an Android-based operating system, the headset delivers impressively sharp visuals, along with spot-on head tracking and stereoscopic 3D. Another point of note for some users is that it fits over existing glasses, whereas other smartglasses may not be so compatible with spectacles.

The device is both powered and controlled by an external pack, which is not dissimilar to the size of a circa-2009 smartphone. While this is a little unwieldy compared to rivals' control methods, it does give the Moverio a battery life of around 6 hours. Considering that most of the competition is still stuck at under two hours for power-users, this is not to be sniffed at.

While the Moverio has applications as a consumer device, Epson was quick to point out its B2B capabilities. The company already has partners across various industries using the Moverio as an enterprise tool, most commonly by relaying real-time, step-by-step instructions from off-site experts to workers on the ground vie first-person video link.

Osterhout Design Group (ODG)

While not technically exhibiting at the show, representatives from the ODG were in attendance participating in various panels focused on augmented reality. We managed to get a hands-on demonstration of its smartglass technology, including the R-7 model the company debuted at CES.

Both the R-7 and the earlier R-6 come packed with incredible displays 720p per eye, which makes the visuals absolutely gorgeous, and the 80 per cent screen transparency means that with the AR content turned off, you'd never know the glasses were smart. It's also built on an Android operating system, and is automatically compatible with any tablet-optimised app.

ODG has a rich pedigree in developing AR technology for government and military contracts and this experience is being put to good use. The company is currently exploring the B2B potential - for example, multiple enterprise applications, including tele-presence uses for medicine and repair - of its product, according to Tony Sanchez, ODG director of special projects.

Apple's first foray into the wearables market, the Apple Watch, will boast a variety of business and consumer apps designed specifically for your wrist.

With pre-orders for the wearable availabled from April 24, plenty of developers and companies are taking advantage of the new platform, and a slew of apps have also been unveiled ahead of the watch's release.

Here are some that have stood out so far.

Uber

There's nothing worse than being stranded in the middle of nowhere at some ungodly hour and having to keep your phone out, constantly checking it for the status of your Uber taxi, so having the app on your Apple Watch seems like a great idea, and one of the most obvious choices for the device.

Instagram

An image-based app like Instagram might not be the first thing you think of when imagining how the Apple Watch could be utilised, but the new app gets around the obvious problems by streamlining its functionality, to allow users to quickly browse their feed, favourite particular photos and leave emoji comments.

Twitter

Possibly best for those who keep their 'Following' count to a minimum, this simplified version of Twitter's app lets users view individual tweets on the device, retweeting and favouriting as they please.

It can also notify you of a new tweet with a small tap, and tweets can be composed with dictation.

eBay

Instead of checking your current auction on the web or your phone every few hours (or minutes), the eBay app for Apple Watch will make keeping on top of purchases and bids so much easier.

Wherever you are, you'll see alerts and notifications about auctions, ensuring you can act fast if someone outbids you at the last moment.

Evernote

Evernote is in many ways the perfect app for the Apple Watch, with users able to make notes by simply speaking into the device when they need to record a note, random thought or task for a later time. Designed as a companion to the iPhone app, it'll add convenience and productivity.

Todoist

With this to do list app, users can sync their tasks and errands with the cloud and have instant access to Todoist at all times. When you're busy, digging out your phone or tablet can be more trouble than it's worth, and so its inclusion on Apple's wearable platform is ideal.

Salesforce

One of the most enterprise-specific app packages to be highlighted so far, Salesforce for Apple Watch brings a snapshot of customer analytics, sales opportunities and more available on the app, making it easier to create graphs, get updates and more from the three apps the company has made available so far.

Invoice2go

Tracking time is easier with a watch, of course, and so the presence of something like Invoice2go on the Apple Watch is the perfect evolution of that for freelancers paid by the hour.

When starting a job, users can begin tracking time, before sending their invoice and getting a notification when payment is received.

OPINION: I am thoroughly unimpressed with smartwatches. Admittedly, in reviewing Android Wear watches for IT Pro's sister title Computeractive, I've seen glimmers of potential in features like Google Now.

For the most part though, the clunky software design and appalling battery life have left me pining for my trusty analogue Seiko. Apple, however, works on its own terms. At no point does Apple ever use the term smartwatch' to describe its simply-named Watch both semantically, functionally, aesthetically and in terms of price, Cupertino is trying to set the Apple Watch apart from all other wrist-worn computers.

My smartwatch scepticism stems from their complexity and lack of purpose. Apple is all about simplicity and elegance. Watches are already supremely simple and elegant timepieces that track the time very well. Then there's purpose. To put up with battery life of a day or two, compared to years for a standard analogue or digital watch, a smartwatch has to offer something truly, profoundly useful.

Android Wear, thus far, has fallen far short of this lofty goal. Google Now is too imperfect. The constant flood of notifications from a paired smartphone is infuriating rather than useful. The selection of apps is anaemic and hardly more convenient than using your phone. The available selection of watch faces are hideous looking and barely functional attempting to find a watch face with minute markers and the date which wasn't butt ugly proved impossible.

Convenience is the key word here. The Cupertino Cook crew is betting that the series of little conveniences offered by the Apple Watch will make it indispensable in your everyday life. Using it for contactless payments (at stores that support Apple Pay). Literally opening doors at hotels and airports by using it as a wrist-worn replacement for boarding passes and room keys. Sending quick messages, either text, audio, drawings or even heart beats taken using its built-in heart rate sensor, to loved ones. Notifications from your iPhone, but those heavily customised to your exact preferences. Apps from the likes of Salesforce, giving you quick snippets of information when you need them most.

It's a bold, daring bet by Apple. Especially as many consumers, the intended market, have yet to be convinced by smartwatches never mind businesses. It's an especially bold bet given the cost. The cheapest Apple Watch costs 299 with an aluminium casing and a rubber strap.

This quickly escalates though. There are too many variants to list here, but the cheapest version with a steel casing and band costs 819. This is pricey by the standards of other smartwatches, but pocket change for moneyed watch aficionados who dismiss Rolexs and Omegas as chav chaff.

Then there are the limited edition gold versions with prices that quickly reach four and even five figures. These would be small prices to pay for those that can afford them and want an heirloom to pass onto their progeny. That's conceivable for a timeless Patek Philippe or Christian Jacques.

Technology ages fast though and it's very hard to imagine an Apple Watch holding its value for decades like a luxury Swiss watch does especially for a product with chips and screens that can and will stop working and will likely be irreparable.

Still, if any technology company can pull off this delicate balance between technology and fashion then it's Apple. The Apple Watch is nothing if not physically beautiful. The straps and bands alone are intricately eye-catching. The ease with which they can be interchanged with each other makes the fiddly jeweller's tools needed for standard watch straps and bands seem antiquated in comparison.

I remain to be convinced by smartwatches. If the rest of you share my scepticism, then Apple has a lot of hard sells to make. Still, a product as bold and risky as the Apple Watch is exactly what I've come to expect from Cupertino. The future of the Apple Watch is murky but it'll be damn interesting to watch unfold.

Apple will confirm more details of its first wearable - the Apple Watch - later today at a dedicated event in San Francisco.

The action starts at 5pm and we'll be bringing you all the news as it happens in the live blog below. So check back later to have all your Apple Watch questions answered.

Virgin Atlantic is trialling Sony's SmartWatch and SmartEyeglass to improve communications between Heathrow engineers.

The employees will receive updates on Sony SmartWatches and will use the Google Glass rival SmartEyeglass to take pictures that can be sent back to their bosses.

Both devices will hook up to smartphones and tablets, allowing for real-time recording between employees in different departments, who can also share data.

Phil Maher, director of operations at Virgin Atlantic, said: "We're delighted to be partnering with Sony to trial wearable technology within our engineering team.

"We are proud of our recent innovation work to provide the best possible experience for our customer facing roles and we're pleased to now be exploring how new technology can contribute towards our essential operations procedures."

Virgin Atlantic's main motivation to introduce such technology was to boost productivity and cut down maintenance times by ensuring engineers can remain on the aircraft during turnarounds.

He said the technology is proving a great way to empower Virgin Atlantic's staff by providing instant access to the information they need.

Dennis van Schie, senior VP of marketing at Sony Mobile Communications, added: "This innovative thinking in pushing the boundaries of how these products are used is a great example of what can be done with our SmartWear and we look forward to continuing to work with Virgin Atlantic on this trial and future initiatives."

Virgin Atlantic has already experimented with wearables, equipping its ground staff with Google Glass and Sony SmartWatches to speed up the process of passenger check in.

LG has announced both the LG Watch Urbane and the LG Watch Urbane LTE at Mobile World Congress (MWC) this week.

The latter device is essentially an LTE-enabled variant on the base model, but there's a few other important changes present too.

For example, the Android Wear OS that most smartwatches run on is nowhere to be found. The LTE device instead runs on a proprietary platform, based partially on the company's WebOS system, which likely means a much more limited selection of apps and watchfaces.

The LTE capabilities included with the beefed-up model mean that the phone can handle tasks such as calling, texting and using apps without needing to be tethered to your smartphone, though, instead using its own 4G connection.

It's also equipped with NFC, meaning it can handle the increasingly prevalent world of mobile payments.

In terms of specs, it's carrying a quad-core processor, a 1.3in touchscreen, and a heartrate monitor. It's likely to be more expensive than the standard, non-LTE version as well.

LG is positioning both devices to compete with Apple's own high-end smartwatch, the Apple Watch.

The LG Watch Urbane will be available to consumers in both silver and gold variations, and will continue the company's approach of designing wearables to resemble traditional items, such as the current G Watch R.

Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG's mobile division, said: "The LG Watch Urbane's classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices.

"LG Watch Urbane is an important part of our strategy to develop wearable devices that are worn and viewed as everyday accessories, not electronic gadgets."

As Cho states, while previous smartwatches released by the company have a fitness and activity focus, the Urbane watch will lean towards "more formal" use, as the company describes it. The thinner profile also makes it suitable for both men and women, "for wearers looking to add both style and high-tech flare to their everyday lives."

Like the G Watch R, the new device will also sport a PPG sensor for users to measure pulse and heart-rate while exercising.

The watch will have a 1.3in full circle P-OLED display, stainless steel body, natural leather strap, and will be powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip.

It will be compatible with phones running Android 4.3 and above, with pricing to be confirmed later.

According to The Verge, the LG Watch Urbane LTE will have a 700mAh battery, NFC and smart wallet functionality, a heartbeat sensor, GPS and more.

This article was originally published on 26/02/2015, but was updated most recently on 02/03/15 to reflect the latest news.

Sony has revealed plans to launch its own smartglasses with "holographic wavelength technology", undeterred by Google's recent decision to scrap the current version of Google Glass.

According to Sony, the glasses will bring "true augmented reality" with translucent lenses that display information onto the wearer's field of view without obstructing their vision.

SmartEyeglass sport an image sensor, 3-megapixel camera, gyroscope, integrated accelerometer, electronic compass and microphone. Also, instead of having the controls situated on the glasses themselves, like Google Glass, the device will come with a separate unit housing the microphone, speaker, NFC, touch sensor and battery.

"Developers can combine the SmartEyeglass sensors and camera with powerful features of the smartphone to create unique hands-free use cases," Sony says.

"Whether you're watching a live game, concert, touring a new city or carrying out a job, SmartEyeglass helps you stay focused and involved, whilst supporting and empowering you with extra data, help and information."

When announced late last year, Sony's headset was touted as the next big competitor to Google Glass before the search engine giant decided to withdraw the device from sale ahead of a complete overhaul.

Sony's vision for the smart specs includes the ability to access "on-demand information in both consumer and professional use cases all while having the hands-free for other tasks."

The SmartEyeglass Developer Edition SED-E1 is now available to pre-order in the UK and Germany, set to go on sale in Japan, US, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden from next month. Sony hopes to release the product for consumers in 2016.

Apple's HealthKit is starting to be rolled out to hospitals in the US to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions to save on resources.

Reuters contacted 23 hospitals, with 14 of them saying they have already begun using a pilot program involving Apple's health care technology. Information such as blood pressure, heart rate and weight can be transmitted back to doctors, allowing them to monitor patients without having to admit them.

This could be particularly useful for patients suffering from conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, with doctors able to keep track of their health remotely.

Dr Richard Milani, chief clinical transformation officer at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, who has been working on a pilot program with Apple and Epic Systems, said: "If we had more data, like daily weights, we could give the patient a call before they need to be hospitalised."

According to IDC Health Insights, 70 per cent of US healthcare organisations are set to invest in technology such as apps and wearables by 2018.

Many of the hospitals spoken to by Reuters expressed interest in using Android's rival service Google Fit given that it is compatible the most widely used operating system.

HealthKit has the potential to collect patient-generated data, referring it back to the users' doctors with their consent. The technology caused controversy in 2014 when worries about how the information could be used surfaced. In November, for example, an app that used the data to predict when someone would die emerged.

Apple was awarded 28 new patents last week, reports Patently Apple (via CNN), and the choices offer noteworthy hints towards what direction the company's products could be heading in.

Among them was one for a "flexible electronic device," which calls to mind Apple's "bendgate" scandal where some users found the iPhone 6 Plus bent slightly in the middle when kept in pockets etc.

The patent reads: "Rigid electronic devices may be vulnerable to damage in the event of an impact such as a drop of the device on a hard surface. It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved electronic devices."

It includes mock-ups of how the flexible device would work, with bendable screen, battery and circuit board.

Then there are the smart glasses, which could pitch Apple against Google in the wearables market, dubbed "Lifestream." The patent describes it as an unscripted data collection system that collects "notes, recordings and annotation data elements."

The glasses could also plug into external apps such as Facebook, collecting video and audio information, as well as facial recognition, respiration patterns, pupil dilation and other data from users.

Google Glass has run into problems with consumers and business users alike, with limited battery life, privacy issues and reports of eye strain all contributing to a backlash. Apple's entry into the smart glasses market could knock Google's position even further.

BlackBerry's messenger app, BBM, has been announced and demonstrated for Android Wear at the CES show, marking the company's first foray into wearable technology, reports Computer World.

The new app will offer allow communication without relying on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. It will also apparently incorporate Internet of Things devices, with users able to react to problems or alerts based on messages sent to the device through BBM.

BBM for Android Wear devices will be available by spring 2015, director of enterprise products Jeff Gadway said at the event, adding: "The smartwatch is great for me if I'm in a meeting and get a notice on my wrist, then I can swipe right and hit a pre-set to send back a response, Why don't we connect once we're done?'."

The company has recently seen success with the BlackBerry Passport, which has sold well in the UK following a significant rough patch. Speaking about the consequences of this, CEO John Chen said:"We will survive as a company and now I am rather confident... BlackBerry has survived; now we have to start looking at growth."

The Android Wear smartwatch line was launched in March, with LG, Asus, HTC, Motorola and Samsung all signing up to produce devices.

BBM currently has 90 million active users, according to BlackBerry.

"It's early for smartwatches," Gadway continued, "but BlackBerry decided it's definitely worth exploring. This is our move beyond smartphones to wearables."

The pace of innovation in the tech world has been supersonic over the last decade. Going into 2015, there are a multitude of ideas that have the potential to improve the way we interact with our environment, communicate, travel, treat disease and use energy.

We take a look at 10 projects and burgeoning ideas that have the potential to change the world over the next 10 years.

1) OmniProcessor (ETA - Trial starting in 2015)

Bill Gates participated in a demonstration to show off the OmniProcessor' earlier this week. Funded by his charitable foundation, the prototype is able to turn sewage into clean drinking water while generating surplus electricity.

Built by Janicki Bioenergy, the OmniProcessor is designed to bring safe and affordable drinking water to developing countries, where traditional methods of sanitation aren't feasible.

A pilot project is scheduled to go ahead later this year in Dakar, Senegal, to determine how best to implement the technology in the developing world.

If successful, the OmniProcessor has the potential to help over 2 billion people worldwide who do not have access to sanitation.

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2) Solar roadways (ETA - Dependant on US contract outcome)

We'd explain this project in words, but they would never live up to the awesomeness of this video...

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3) Nuclear Fusion - (ETA - Prototype expected by 2020)

Humans have tried to harness nuclear power for the last half century but it has proved problematic. Not only has the technology been weaponised but catastrophic reactor meltdowns in Chernobyl and Fukushima have caused devastation.

Global security and aerospace firm Lockheed Martin claims to have made a breakthrough with Nuclear Fusion, which it claims will help to provide the world with safe and clean energy.

How does it work? Fusion creates energy by heating up a gas and separating ions and electrons. When the ions get hot enough (we're talking hundreds of millions of degrees), they overcome mutual repulsion and collide, fusing together. This releases massive amounts of energy about one million times more than a chemical reaction and is 3-4 times more powerful than a fission reaction where atoms are split.

The firm claims it can get to a working prototype in five years (2020). The aim is to create Nuclear Fusion reactors the size of a truck, which can be used to power existing fossil fuel power stations. The question is - will we ever really trust nuclear power?

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4) 3D printing - (ETA - Now)

One of the few technologies on the list being used at present is 3D printing. There are already countless examples of how the technology is benefitting people worldwide. So far we've seen 3D printers being used to create mechanical bodyparts....

replace traditional casts

and even build houses...

As the technology becomes widespread and the cost of entry is lowered for consumers and businesses, 3D printing will only become more useful.

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5) Driverless cars (ETA - Part-autonomous expected by 2020)

All the major car manufacturers are racing to develop vehicles and Google has also got in on the act, arguably making this the most hyped technology on the list.

Driving automation is expected to take place in stages, with AI already being used to take limited control on highways and help with parking.

The key to the success of fully automated cars is going to be in the implementation of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology. This is fundamental as cars will need to detect each other regardless of make and model. Other barriers needing to be overcome include the ability for AI to adapt to weather, unexpected humans on the roadside, changes in the road layout and even simple things like avoiding potholes.

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6) Universal speech translation (ETA - 2015)

Microsoft has been beavering away on its real-time speech translator for over 10 years and it's finally available in beta form. The Skype Translator Preview is available to test out now and is currently capable of translating speech from English to Spanish and vice-versa.

It is expected to be rolled out later this year and translate 40+ languages in real-time during video calls. This is likely to change the nature of business deals and help to create a global marketplace.

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7) Wearables (ETA - R&D phase)

This is more of a category, rather than a standalone technology, but we're not talking about the fitness bands that all the technology manufacturers are trying to get users to start wearing.

The wearables we're talking about include technology to enhance the human body. We've already seen the creation of exoskeletons, which can help paralysed people regain the ability to walk or increase the strength of those who need to carry out heavy lifting.

Motorola is working on temporary digital tattoos, which could be used for authentication purposes. Meanwhile, Google is pouring money into research for a "smart contact lens", designed to monitor conditions such as diabetes.

The prominence of neural implants is also expected to rise over the next 50 years. So far, doctors have been able to restore hearing with cochlear implants and sight with retina implants. The US military is now testing ways to replace memory function that has been lost - and once this has been proven to work - it is likely to make its way into the mainstream.

A Matrix-like future could be on the horizon, where you can learn activities by "downloading" them.

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8) Graphene (ETA - R&D phase)

The one-atom thick substance may have been produced in 2003, but more than a decade later, scientists continue to discover new properties the material is capable of.

The durable, flexible, thin and lightweight characteristics of Graphene make it ideal for use in a variety of industries from electronics to medical. Most recently, scientists made a breakthrough whereby they discovered the material has potential to be used to create hydrogen fuel cells.

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9) Personalised medicine (ETA - R&D with limited rollout)

The ability to identify mutated genes and the type of mutation is going to be crucial in the battle against diseases as it helps doctors to tailor medication. This is particularly beneficial for diseases like Alzheimers, and Parkinsons, for which there are currently no cures.

With the vast amounts of processing power now available, the personalisation of medicine is slowly becoming a reality as doctors and scientists are able to map the human genome. The cost of mapping individual genomes has gone from $100 million in 2001 to below $10,000 in 2014 and as the price is driven down, more people are going to be able to benefit from it.

In the UK, the NHS is looking to focus on personalised care going forward. Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England, summed up the benefits gene therapy will bring to patients.

"From carpet-bombing to precision targeting. From one-size-fits many [treatments], to one-size-fits-one," he told attendees at the NHS Confederation Annual Conference in 2014.

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10) Hoverboard (ETA - October 2015)

Any talk about future technology would not be complete without a reference to Back to the Future. It is 2015 after all.

The Hendo Hoverboard started off life as a Kickstarter project and is due to be released on 21 October 2015. It is capable of hovering off the ground once someone is on-board.

On the bottom of the board there are four disc-shaped hover engines, providing lift by creating opposing magnetic fields in the surface substrate. And there lies the catch. The board only works on specially designed metallic surfaces, the battery only lasts a few minutes due to the energy needed and it's pretty noisy.

It's not cheap either, with the first batch of 10 hoverboards costing $10,000 a piece. Hendo also plans to make a hoverpark' where budding Marty McFly's can take a board for a spin.

The union of the fashion and technology worlds looks set to continue, with Swarovski revealing its wearable Activity Tracking Crystal at CES.

The piece will function as a pedometer, a sleep tracker and calorie counter, reports Fashion Times, with the user able to sync it with a smartphone app.

The wrap bracelet is part of a larger, nine-piece collection created along with Misfit Wearables Shine with the Activity Tracking Crystal acting as the line's feature.

Joan Ng, Swarovski's senior vice president of product marketing for Asia, told WWD: "What's available is too focused on function and not sexy. Our consumer also wants some glitter."

The bracelet will be sold without the crystal for $69, but to buy the full wearable will set consumers back $249 for the tracking crystal, Swarovski Vio crystal pendant and silicone sport band. A reversible pendant can also be purchased for $149.

Speaking earlier in 2014, Claire Duke-Wooley, Beecham fashion technology analyst, spoke about the importance of a union between the fashion and technology industries for wearable technology to take-off, saying:

"There is a real difference between making technology wearable versus making technology products that are desirable and genuinely engage with consumers through good design practice. The market is still wide open for trail blazing products that deliver desire, image and perceived value."

Wearable technology has been cited as a market set for huge growth over the next few years, with CCS Insight's global forecast published in August predicting sales would rise from 9.7 million in 2013 to 135 million by 2018.

All products from Swarovski are now on pre-sale, and will be available from various retailers in the US, Hong Kong and China in the spring.

Intel's attempt to gain a slice of the lucrative wearables market continues with the chipmaker unveiling a button-sized power module at CES 2015.

The Curie' SoC is the size of a shirt button and has a 32-bit Quark microcontroller, Bluetooth Low Energy, battery, accelerometer and gyroscope built into it.

The small form-factor means the chip can be built into bags, bracelets, buttons, pendants, rings and fitness trackers.

With 384kB flash memory and 80kB SRAM on-board, the Curie is expected to be used for basic tasks like displaying social notifications.

Battery life is an area where all wearables are struggling at present - with many users having to charge smartwatches at least every 48 hours.

Intel claims the Curie module can run for "extended periods" but has declined to go into specifics at this time.

To help developers make usable products, Intel is providing a real-time operating system (RTOS) along with reference wearable applications via IQ Software Kits.

These kits have embedded software running the module together with companion smartphone apps and cloud capabilities.

Intel will release Curie in the second half of 2015, and while it has yet to disclose pricing, it's expected to be competitive to attract developers.

In a bid to gain traction in the market place, Intel also announced a partnership with Oakley. The sunglass maker is expected to release an intelligent product later this year designed to improve athletic performance.

This is the latest in a long line of partnerships, with Intel already having struck deals with Fossil, SMS Audio and also splashing out $150 million to purchase smartwatch maker Basis.

The year 2014 is finally drawing to a close, and what a year it has been for the tech industry.

With some of the worst cyber attacks in history, it will be a year to forget for many, raising data security straight to the top of the agenda for most CIOs.

Cloud adoption has continued to increase, helped in no small way by the pricing wars between Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

When it comes to the public sector, there has been a simmering tension between Whitehall and large suppliers on the back of several large contract problems.

So what does 2015 hold in store for us? IT Pro asked analysts and industry experts for their views.

1. TheInternet of Things will finally make sense

Bola Rotibi, research director at analyst house Creative Intellect Consulting (CIC), believes the hype around the Internet of Things (IoT) will deflate.

She says: "The industry and market will flounder in trying to grasp exactly the definition of IoT and why it really is different from what has been evolving from the machine to machine world.

"In fact the initial hype of IoT will quickly subside as the reality of the fact that it touches so many industries that it cannot be determined the difference of what is actually an IoT market and the general evolution of every other technology sector."

But colleague Clive Howardsays that the Internet of Things (IoT) will start to make more sense for businesses as more industry use cases come out of it.

"IoT will continue to be big news but we will start to see a lot more sense coming through," he says. "Less about vending machines and thermostats and more about industrial applications that provide real value. I think generally we're going to see more tech stories in the enterprise space whether mobile or IoT."

Forrester Research believes the IoT trend will help CIOs focus on longer term business change rather than cost-saving exercises.

The research firm's Frank Gillett says: "Though most early IoT implementations are driven by line-of-business executives seeking specific operational efficiency improvements, the CIO's tech management teams will eventually be drawn in to help with security, networks, software integration, interoperability, and analytics.

"Over the longer term, CIOs need to anticipate where business leaders will go after achieving operational efficiency improvements and plan for technology and infrastructure to support engaging with customers in new ways, creating new revenue streams, and offering new business models."

2.The new selfies' will be videos

Gartner believes the selfie trend is no passing fad, but will evolve like any other form of communication predicting phone snaps will be replaced by video selfies by 2017.

But it think businesses must prepare for the growing use of live video by starting next year.

"Live video broadcasting will be the new selfie," Gartner says. "Product managers start creating a visual strategy straight away to accommodate this trend."

Brian Blau, research director, adds: "The next generation of consumer services and products has one main theme in common and that is video.

"This means incorporating live video or other real-time technologies into products to engage users in live events and enable more personalized communications, providing better customer support, and offering best-of-breed video and TV experiences to connected homes."

3.The second coming of the systems integrator

Georgina O'Toole, of analyst group TechMarketView, believes that after two years of trying to break free of the shackles of Big IT providers, the government will turn to those with system integrators (SIs) again.

"From collectively being on the naughty step', the Cabinet Office has accepted that they require suppliers with deep knowledge of the public sector to guide them on what will be a difficult transformational journey over the next few years," she predicts.

"In the world of digital', systems integrators will be the bolt that holds everything together and helps the public sector Join the Dots'.

"The large SIs are taking this approach to developing their business outside of Whitehall as well using their integration skills to, for example, take data analytics capabilities to the table and open up new opportunities."

She believes this reliance on SIs will grow as more SMBs work as subcontractors for large IT firms handling a public sector contract.

4. Apple Pay will introduce new cyber threats

Security firm Trend Micro believes the much-awaited launch of Apple Pay, Apple's mobile payments app, will bring huge risks to consumers using it, because it has not been trialled in the real world.

"Apple Pay is not alone in the market other payment systems have or will beintroduced by other companies and trade associations," the firm says. "Not all of these payment systems have been thoroughly tested to withstand real-world threats, and we may see attacks targeting mobile commerce in 2015."

5. There's an 80% chance you'll suffer a cyber attack

As Sony Pictures knows, the price to pay for suffering a cyber attack that results in a data leak is high the film studio has seen embarrassing emails, feature films and staff's personal details enter the public domain. It's now cancelled anti-North Korea movie The Interview after hackers threatened 9/11' style retaliations.

But even with new EU Data Regulations set to charge up to five per cent of a firm's annual turnover (or up to 100 million) for breaches, Forrester still believes eight out of ten enterprises will suffer a breach next year whether they find out or not.

It says: "Forrester believes that in the coming year, breaches of sensitive data such as intellectual property and customer records will continue. Given that more S&R pros will invest in detection and response capabilities, more security teams will be in a better position to detect and respond to breaches.

"Thus, we feel confident that while at least 60 per cent of enterprises will discover a breach, the actual number of breached entities will be much higher, as high as 80 per cent or more."

6. Containerisation will disrupt IT departments

According to 451 Research, 2014 saw an "explosion of activity" around Docker, the young upstart company specialising in containerisation.

The open-source technology of Docker enables sysadmins and developers to automatically deploy applications inside software containers, allowing those processes to run in isolation.

"[We] anticipate disruption in IT departments in 2015 as they start to use Docker," says 451 Research. "While containerisation technology has existed for years, Docker is a more modern, lightweight form that is widely viewed as a next-generation virtualization technology

"451 analysts believe Docker will be adopted by large enterprises to work alongside, as well as replace, traditional virtual machines because of its management and efficiency advantages.

"Docker has not yet achieved parity with traditional VMs in some critical areas, including orchestration and security, and a large number of vendors are rapidly addressing this."

7. Private IaaS providers will compete with Amazon

Forrester believes the saturated public cloud infrastructure market will continue to be popular with customers looking to scale and benefit from economies of scale.

However, it predicts that while smaller infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) providers cannot compete, they will try to offer rival deployments in the private cloud.

"Many other cloud IaaS providers are turning to the possibilities of hosted private cloud IaaS and on-premises private cloud IaaS as possible ways to compete, since they have gotten limited traction in the public cloud IaaS market," it says.

"Offerings where the service is identical to the customer and operated uniformly, whether multitenant or single tenant, on-premises or in the provider's data centre are potentially attractive to many customers."

It sees this development as the only way customers with a requirement for on-premise infrastructure can go to the cloud.

Additionally, Forrester believes 2015 will see Microsoft's cloud business overtake its on-premise division in profitability.

"Microsoft will generate more margin dollars from cloud-based services than its traditional on-premises applications and Windows," the analyst house predicts. "Under Nadella's mandate, commercial product development teams are focused on driving innovation into the cloud versions of its properties first (on-premises second).

"And its sales engines are all rewarded for pushing as much cloud into each enterprise license agreement as possible."

8. Citizens will demand to own their own data

Consumers are becoming increasingly wary of how their data is used by companies, believes customer identity management platform Gigya.

Its own survey found 80 per cent of people have abandoned online registration pages because they did not like sharing the information they were being asked to share.

"Businesses must put transparency at the forefront of their data practices in 2015 and proactively address these privacy concerns by letting customers know upfront what data they want to collect, explaining how it will be used, and allowing them to easily opt in and out," the company warns.

9. Wearables will fail

While the tech industry awaits the launch of the Apple Watch and Google Glass (still) expectantly, no wearable has changed the way we live yet.

EMC's president of products, Jeremy Burton, predicts wearables will almost entirely die off in 2015, only surviving by serving niche markets.

"Apple fanatics worldwide expect wearables will go mainstream following the emergence of the Apple Watch, but I'm not so sure," he says.

"Let's face it, nobody under 35 wears a watch anymore they rely on their smartphones for everything. A lot of wearables will fail, with the guys wearing their Bluetooth ear piece all day propping up the market.

"Now, that said, not all wearable technology will end in abject failure. Standalone, niche wearables that shake up industries for the better such as FitBits or Jawbones that monitor vitals or health activity will continue to flourish and be incorporated into sports clothing, shoes and equipment. "

CIC's Howard broadly agrees. He says: "A lot of the heat comes out of wearables [in 2015]. There will be many more devices released but I don't see adoption sky-rocketing and I think vendors will start to temper their expectations.

"We're already seeing this with Google Glass. Wearables are more of an industry product than consumer. Unless someone discovers that killer app."

10. Data scientists will become popular as industry specialists

As firms wake up to the potential of big data, the role of data scientists has been a big topic of conversation in 2014.

And Hitachi Data Systems CTO for EMEA, Bob Plumridge, believes firms will start to hire them more and more as they discover just how much technical expertise is required to make sense of and use big data.

"They will also need to understand the business value of the data being generated and analysed in a specific sector," he adds.

"By 2020, all businesses will need their employees to have the technical skills we associate with a data scientist today. The problem we currently face is that there is a significant skills gap in the UK for workers with the advanced data skills to meet business needs."

This will be a tough challenge to solve in only five years and the development of UK tech talent must continue to be high on the agenda for both the government and businesses alike.

Next year will also see firms classify data more clearly, Plumridge contends.

"The issue for IT teams [right now] is that they are going in data blind. Often data isn't classified at the point of creation, leaving businesses with no way of knowing whether they are looking at HR, sales or customer data.

"With the majority of data holding little to no value, the importance of classification is paramount to ensure businesses retain the crucial 20 per cent."

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) security problems have been overblown during the last few years. Sure, the increased uptake of cloud services and the pressure put on both budgets and staff expectations has led to more off grid devices appearing in the workplace. However, the use of them doesn't have to be a security nightmare; it just means the enterprise has to adjust its security posture accordingly to accommodate the risk.

The same goes for the 'Shadow IT' threat. None of which stops security vendor after security vendor from lining up to tell us all these things are a clear and present danger to enterprise data.

The latest of these "threats" to enterprise data is Wear Your Own Device (WYOD). According to new research from Accellion, published today, enterprises are simply not ready to tackle the security risks that come with "the dawn of the age of WYOD".

Aimed squarely at the UK enterprise, the research questioned decision makers from 100 organisations with more than 1,000 employees, and Accellion discovered that 77 per cent of them didn't include wearable tech as part of their broader mobile security strategic planning. What's more, 53 per cent said they hadn't even considered the possible impact of it on their security posture, despite 81 per cent also accepting any increase in wearable tech could be a security risk.

My main concern here is the figures simply don't make sense and I suggest the 'decision makers' who responded are immediately relieved of having to make any further decisions about enterprise data security as they are clearly not up to the task. I mean, seriously, half of them say they haven't considered the wearable threat yet more than 80 per cent accept wearables could be a security risk.

Did they not understand the question? If that were not enough to reinforce my knee-jerk distrust of such surveys, after all the responses are only as valid as the questions being asked. Another statistic emerging from this research is that 41 per cent of UK enterprises "currently have a BYOD policy in place that can be extended to cover wearables", which suggests that 59 per cent do not.

What the actual flip? More than half the BYOD policies out there, in these enterprises at least, are not fit for purpose because they do not cover own devices being brought into the workplace if they are strapped to a body part, apparently. Sorry, run that past me again, old chap?

Accellion says the figures "demonstrate that the wearable device poses a great threat to UK business, and if IT teams don't act quickly we could see many more cyber attacks as a consequence" which isn't the conclusion I am drawing from the headline figures. What I'm getting is they demonstrate a number of enterprises either have a really crap understanding of what a BYOD policy should look like or no idea what a wearable device actually is. Or both.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the threat that wearables introduce into the enterprise data landscape. What I don't understand is how that threat differs fundamentally from anything else that falls under the umbrella of BYOD. The clue is in the D bit, and a smartwatch or Google Glass, or USB storage underpants for that matter are all devices. End of. Next...

Inside the enterprise: If you were a villain in a Bond movie, you didn't want to be on the wrong end of 007's wearable technology. All too often, the consequences were lethal.

But, although some officer workers might yearn for an exploding watch or a bracelet hiding a poison dart, wearable technology is more likely to be an update on the 1980s' digital watch. Any security issues are, fortunately, likely to be of a less lethal variety.

The question of wearable tech and security, though, is a live one. Organisations already struggle with policing their networks and preventing data loss, especially if they allow employees to use their own smartphones or tablets at work.

Creating a watertight data protection policy, where personal devices are involved, is close to impossible.

Short of an outright ban unlikely to be acceptable in fields outside defence and central government it is hard to prevent employees using a smartphone camera, to take just one example, to capture sensitive data. Then there is the power of modern personal devices: a smartphone can copy even a sizeable company database many times over.

Miniaturisation does pose potential, additional security issues, however. Although there may well be business benefits in using wearable technology the idea of a watch that can conceal or control a camera or a data transmitter is likely to worry CIOs, especially in sensitive industries.

It is one thing to ban the use of cameras or cameras in smartphones; it is quite another to control the use of a device that could, potentially, take a picture at the flick of the wrist. Again, devices that can hook up to a PC and capture data over Bluetooth, or maybe even record or transcribe a conversation, pose a threat to confidentiality.

You don't have to be Bond's gadget maker Q to obtain sophisticated surveillance tools today. A whole range of spy gear, from miniature cameras to hidden microphones, is easy enough to find online. If someone is really determined to obtain company secrets, then they probably will.

The challenge for CIOs is controlling either casual data theft, or accidental data loss. Both of these problems may become worse with wearables.

From a data theft perspective, an employee might be tempted to snap the details of a celebrity customer's records with a watch, in a way they never would with a smartphone, let alone a full-sized camera. When it comes to data loss, if wearables can store company information then they can also lose it too.

A recent study, carried out by Vanson Bourne for Trend Micro, fleshes out some CIO concerns. The firm found that a quarter of companies were rolling out wearables, but 85 per cent thought they did pose a security risk. Almost half of the IT directors surveyed worried about data theft, and a further 34 per cent, about the auto-synchronisation of business data.

Of course, some of these problems can be addressed through policies and education. But maybe CIOs need to take a leaf out of Q's book, and fit wearables with a self-destruct button.

Stephen Pritchard is a contributing editor at IT Pro.